Faculty and staff at Marywood University gathered in the Upper Main Dining Hall of the Nazareth Student Center on Nov. 24 at 7:30 a.m. for a Thanksgiving prayer breakfast.

Sr. Anne Munley, IHM, Ph.D, president of Marywood University, presented a welcome and opening remarks.

“It’s my pleasure really to welcome and to thank you for being here today,” said Sr. Anne. “I can honestly say that out of all the events that we have throughout the year at Marywood, this is one of my absolute favorite events at Marywood University.”

The purpose of the event was to give thanks to all of the employees.

Sherry Nalbone, an employee for 10 years at Marywood University, said, “I wanted to share this beautiful time with my co-workers. It’s nice to be around friends that I haven’t been able to talk to, I love listening to Sr, Anne, watching the Marywood Chamber Singers and enjoying the food.”

A prayer from Sr. Catherine Luxner, IHM, director of Campus Ministry, proceeded the breakfast.

After breakfast, the Marywood Chamber Singers performed “Hail, Queen of Heaven” by Rihards Dubra.

Amanda Peterson, junior speech pathology major and a member of the Marywood Chamber Singers, said, “It’s always nice to be invited to this just because it shows that Marywood supports the music therapy department. It helps to get us out there a little bit more.”

Barbara Castanzo, administrative assistant in the School of Social Work, Barbara Parker-Bell, associate professor of art in the Visual Arts Department and Muhammed Haroon Jamshed, international admissions counselor in University of Admissions read sacred readings from Christianity, Judaism and Islam once the Marywood Chamber Singers concluded.

Linda Dzieciol, administrative assistant of the office of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, read the prayer of intercession.
Sr. Catherine led the closing prayer and once the prayer was done, the Marywood University anthem played in the background as people left.

Sr. Catherine said, “I think the event really speaks for itself, it’s such a wonderful way to begin our holiday season, a lot of our employees, especially our housekeeping and maintenance staff, gives them the opportunity to be here. It’s about giving the gift of God for all the wonderful things that are ours, things that come to us because of the community, because of one another and from one another.”

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