News & Events

Wednesday, January 7, 2009
by: Michele Neves and Omayra Arocho

Starting off the season in the spirit of sharing, The College of Education and Human Services had the pleasure of participating in Paterson Catholic Regional High School's 33rd Annual Senior Citizens' Christmas Party.  Paterson Catholic is in the process of starting a teacher academy in conjunction with Seton Hall's College of Education and Human Services.  Both Principal Richard B. Garibell and Dean Joseph De Pierro are excited about and diligently working towards this new venture.
 
Paterson Catholic's Annual Senior Citizens' Christmas Party was initiated by the Benedictine Sisters who first staffed the school and now continues under the leadership of Assistant Principal Michele Neves.  The party has a reputation of its own among seniors and is eagerly anticipated every year.
 
Every year the Christmas party begins with the Wheelchair Brigade.  The tradition began when a nursing home opened across the street.  Its residents love coming and their employees cannot handle all of the wheelchairs themselves.  As a result, student-athletes gather with one or two teachers and wheel the patients in parade style.  The Paterson Police Department is also on hand to cross everyone.
 
More than 100 of Paterson Catholic's students stay to work on the party.  Many are waiters or waitresses.  Others sing; still others dance.  Volunteers return faithfully every year and the event is never short of help.  This year, Associate Dean Manina Urgolo Huckvale and Director of College Engagement, Omayra Arocho, from Seton Hall University's College of Education and Human Services participated in the Christmas party by visiting various tables and sharing stories with Paterson's senior citizens.
 
The Brownstone catered the luncheon with approximately 400 senior citizens present.  Mr. Tommy Manzo generously reduces the price of the food and the school raises the rest of the money through fundraisers and donations.
 
“I tell the students that for me, it's not really Christmas until we have had the party,” comments Assistant Principal Neves.  Since 1997, she has dedicated her work on the party to her late mother, Jeanette Fierro, who enjoyed coming to the event and was very proud of her.  “So many of our guests are poor or have no family.  This luncheon may be the bright spot of their holiday.  It certainly is mine.”  
 

For more information please contact:
Omayra Arocho
(973) 761-9661
arochoom@shu.edu