Every year on the feast of Holy Innocents, December 28, the Augustinian
Recollect Sisters in Irvington, New Jersey, invite their Recollect
brothers from St. Augustine Province and the St. Nicholas Delegation
to join them for a community gathering and lunch. Since Holy Innocents
is the day for pranks (like April Fools’ Day) everyone has
to remain alert; the Sisters are always very creative when it comes
to playing tricks!
Twenty-two Recollect friars—from Tagaste Monastery in Suffern,
the Provincial Residence in West Orange, St. John Parish in the
Bronx, and the St. Nicholas Delegation—were present at the
Sister’s convent for their annual OAR Christmas get-together.
The chapel and convent were festively decorated for the Christmas
season, the highlight—which seems to grow larger every year—being
a large Nativity display in the dining room featuring dozens of
miniature figures and appropriate landscaping. The Sisters served
a huge Mexican-style buffet, beginning with noodle soup and continuing
with salad, fried chicken, chicken mole, ribs, rice, beans,
and guacamole, a variety of tamales, and plenty of tortilla, accompanied
by lemonade, beer, and sparkling wine. Dessert consisted of coffee,
crispy buñuelos, and a delicious flan.
The Sisters had a few tricks up their sleeves in the spirit of
Holy Innocents, inviting Fr.Francis Moriones to cut a huge and
elaborately decorated “cake” which turned out to be
made of cardboard. All laughed appreciatively, no one more than
Fr. Moriones himself. Afterward all retired to the upstairs recreation
room where there was an exchange of gifts, each friar picking a
number and receiving the corresponding present. Song sheets were
then passed out and Christmas carols were sung by both friars and
Sisters. Then a huge star-shaped piñata was brought
out and hoisted into the air. Things got a little wild—as
they always do—when various friars, their eyes covered with
a blindfold, tried their luck at busting the piñata,
which seemed to be made of concrete. Finally, it was shattered
with the well placed blow of a palo and candies scattered
all over the room where they were eagerly snatched up. Shortly
afterward it was time to say goodbye as all thanked the Sisters
for once again providing a wonderful and fun-filled holiday celebration.
Fr. John Gruben, OAR
