Saying Farewell to Sister Cecilia

07.5.15 | Food for the Soul, Volunteer Stories

Voice of a Volunteer: Sister Cecilia Palange

We are celebrating the many years of volunteer service donated by Sister Cecilia Palange. Her dedication to bringing food for the soul to the noon day meal every Friday for 23 years will be very much missed as she moves on to her next phase in life.

“I started as a “bus girl” on the tables,” Sister Cecilia recalls. Busing tables is an important job here at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, because on our 20 or so tables, as many as 1200 guests eat their mid-day meal in less than two hours.

“After several years, though,” she remembers,” there were too many volunteers so I set up my ‘soul food table’ in the corner.” At Sister Cecilia’s table, guests have had access to literature and “positive stuff to read”, such as Our Daily Bread publications and cards with motivational quotes on them. The real gift though has been her consistent availability for spiritually uplifting conversation.

For Sister Cecilia, being in the presence of guests at the soup kitchen has been a gift. “I remember one guest saying he had a toothache. Oh, it was terribly painful. But then he said, ‘A hurting heart hurts more’. That really stuck with me.” She goes on to recall a time she offered a card to a guest and suggested he put it on his wall. “I don’t have a wall,” he said. “I live under a bridge.”

I’m sure many of our guests and volunteers have fond memories of Sister Cecilia and wish her all the best in her journey bringing positivity to people’s souls.

Nick

Nick

THE LATEST

Stay current on activity at the Soup Kitchen, guest stories, thoughts from Clergy, news and events.

Subscribe to receive the latest news, events, volunteer opportunities, and more — right to your inbox.

Church of the Holy Apostles

We are an open, inclusive Christian Church celebrating in the Episcopal tradition.

Sunday Service is held 11AM (on site and via livestream). Weekday services are held on Zoom.

LEARN MORE

For Newcomers

Learn about our faith community and explore ways to connect with our work and worship.

Sermons

Reflections on Holy Scripture from our Clergy.

History

Founded in 1844, with a focus on social activism and the desire for social justice.

Clergy, Staff & Vestry

The Vestry is the governing body of the Church of the Holy Apostles.

MUSIC

Music commands a strong presence at the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Space Rental

Host your next meeting or event in our landmark building.

Soup Kitchen & Pantry

Nourishing hungry New Yorkers since 1982 in an atmosphere of respect and hospitality.

LEARN MORE
Daily meal service

Serving a free, nutritious meal every weekday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Meal outreach

Distributing bagged breakfasts and lunches throughout Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen.

About the soup kitchen

Learn more about our mission, our history, our performance, who we are, and what we do.

Pantry Program

Providing fresh and nutritious groceries to food-insecure New Yorkers.

Sunday Supper

Bridging generations and building community over a monthly family style meal.

Give Layers of Love this Winter

Help Keep Our Guests Warm this Winter.

Social Support

Meeting basic needs, stabilizing lives, and supporting individuals and families to achieve their goals.

LEARN MORE
SOCIAL SERVICES

Addressing the needs of the whole person through basic needs, counseling, and referrals.

Classes

Offering learning and skill-building opportunities.

Community Partnership

Partnering with others to expand the services offered to our guests.

Get Involved

Holy Apostles is a great place to channel your time, talents and generosity for good.

LEARN MORE
Volunteer

Make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and hunger.

Partner

Join our efforts to serve others and provide for people who are vulnerable.

Donate

Your gift provides food, community, and hope to New Yorkers in need.

The Latest

Stay up-to-date on all happenings at Holy Apostles.

VIEW ALL
Food For The Soul

The official blog of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen.

Voices of Our Community

Guest stories, poetry, and more.

EVENTS

See our calendar of events.

Church Pulpit Posts

Read weekly meditations written by our clergy.

Newsroom

Holy Apostles in the news.