Fraternity Joins Parish in Celebrating
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Feast

Members of St. Joseph Fraternity celebrated the 800^th birthday of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patroness of the Secular Franciscan Order, by joining parishioners at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church in Utica for the 4 p.m. vigil mass on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Deacon Gil Nadeau reflected on the life of St. Elizabeth and her ties to Bl. Marianne Cope and to the parish. Secular Franciscans participated as lectors and gift bearers.

Francis Kolarits, a local historian who is compiling a book of religious art primarily devoted to St. Elizabeth, exhibited his collection of photos in the vestibule during all weekend masses. The parish will be included in his book with photos of the St. Elizabeth statue and stained glass window, plus the mural in front of the church in which St. Elizabeth is depicted.

Following the vigil mass, the parish offered a free Hungarian/German style dinner in the parish center, prepared by chef Deacon Gil. The dinner featured Hungarian goulash and German sausages with crusty breads similar to what St. Elizabeth distributed to the poor. In the spirit of St. Elizabeth, Secular Franciscans helped serve the dinner.

“The celebration was truly a Franciscan experience,” noted Fraternity Minister Katie Koscinski, SFO.

Added Treasurer Gordon Lallier: “It seemed everyone came for the delicious and abundant food cooked by Deacon Gil. We Franciscans had the privilege to be waiters and waitresses. On display were beautiful pictures of St. Elizabeth and there was a lecture by the artist. What an inspiring day it was!”

###