08/25/2026
Updated with a message from Chef Eric:
"A MESSAGE FROM OUR OWN CHEF ERIC: Hello, everyone. I want to take a moment to say thank you
to everyone who was a part of cooking for the less fortunate August 24th & 25th.
Cooking for the less fortunate means a lot to me—not because of anything I’ve personally done, but because of what we are able to do together. I’ve always liked to think about what Jesus would do if He were standing here with us. I think He would be here serving people. He would be feeding people who are hungry, helping those who are struggling, and reminding people that they are loved and that they have not been forgotten. That’s really what this is about. I don’t do these things for recognition or because I want people to tell me I did a good job. I do them because I’ve been blessed with things in my life, and I feel that those blessings are meant to be shared. If I have the ability to cook a meal, I want to cook it. If I have the ability to help someone, I want to help. If I can bring other people together
to help even more people, I want to do that, too. That’s one of the things that made cooking for the less fortunate so special. I couldn’t do this alone. Every person who donated, volunteered, cooked, packed, served, or simply showed up has become part of this.
We may look at this as just preparing and serving a meal, but to someone who is struggling, that meal can mean much more. It can mean that somebody cared enough to think about them. It can mean that they were treated with dignity. It can mean that, even for one meal, they felt remembered. As Catholics we’re called to see Christ in other people—especially in those who are hungry, hurting, or in need. Jesus tells us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.” So for this event, that’s what I hope we
remember. We’re not just cooking food. We’re serving our brothers and sisters. We’re sharing the blessings we’ve been
given. And hopefully, through what we’re doing here at Saint Nicholas, we’re allowing a little bit of Christ’s love to reach someone who needs it.
Thank you all for being here, for giving your time, and for helping make this possible.
God bless all of you
Eric Galida"
From the Orginal Post:
Thanks to all the volunteers who came out this afternoon and early this evening to prepare lunch to be served to those less at the Franciscan Friary in Newark tomorrow. The friars typically serve 200 lunches (often hot) every Tuesday.
Fr Tom and a few parishioners will bring the food to Most Blessed Sacrament Friary the Tuesday morning.
Thank you all, and God bless.