Members of the Paterson Fire Department held their annual home-cooked Christmas dinner on Dec. 2 at fire headquarters in memory of Sister of Charity Loretta Weingart and in honor of all living religious.
Sister Weingart was like a “mother-chaplain” to the firefighters of Paterson. She served what is now known as St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson. She kept vigil over injured or ill firefighters and their families as a “guardian angel.” In the 1990s, the firefighters started a dinner in her honor — an event that grew in attendance. Since her death in 2002, the department has held an annual Christmas dinner for religious, including her community, the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, and clergy.
At the dinner, religious offered a reciprocal “thank you” to the firefighters as front-line workers every day.
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Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was present to greet everyone and give the meal blessing. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh also attended the dinner.
The Bishop said, “Thank you to the Paterson Fire Department for hosting the 33rd annual Christmas Dinner for religious sisters and brothers, priests, seminarians, and postulants. What a great meal, a great crowd, and a great night. Thanks also to the faculty, students, and alumni from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, Mayor Andre Sayegh, family members of the firefighters, and retired firefighters for helping us all feel the Christmas spirit.”
