A Conventual Franciscan Parish Understands the Meaning of Community

Delicious food at the Conventual Franciscan-staffed Holy Family Parish

At the Conventual Franciscan Holy Family Parish in Albany, New York, the meaning of community is made real. During this year’s Palm Sunday, parishioners at Holy Family did not simply attend mass and then go home. Many people congregating in one room do not form a community. What happened instead is that after mass, everyone gathered to eat at a potluck. The sheer quantity of food delighted all the people gathered. The act of generosity could not be denied. And the variety of food traditional to nations such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Spain, Italy, Poland, and China delighted every palate. When people ate, they talked and listened, connecting with one another on a deeper level. Singing and dancing helped them to relax even more. Holy Family Parish was their home; here they could always practice their faith.

Fun at the Palm Sunday potluck