St. Gabriel the Archangel Church hosted a joyful Three Kings celebration on Sunday, January 4, bringing together parishioners, newly arrived immigrant families, and community partners to mark the Feast of the Epiphany.

The event welcomed families and individuals who have recently arrived in New York City in search of a better life. Children received toys symbolically gifted by the Three Wise Men, while families shared a meal, socialized, and watched their children play together. Each family was also offered winter coats for every household member.

HITN proudly supported the celebration, helping ensure that every child and family felt welcomed and cared for during the gathering.

The event was part of the church’s ongoing Sunday Community Dinners, organized by Pastor Fr. Edward Mason since 2022, when New York City began receiving large numbers of migrants from border states. According to Fr. Mason, the dinners are meant to offer “a few hours of peace and comfort, an island of respect and dignity amid what has become an increasingly difficult existence.”

Support for the initiative has come from numerous parishes, including Our Lady of Angels, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Brooklyn; Our Lady of Snows and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Queens; and Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park and Our Lady of Snows in Blue Point. Other Catholic Churches of East New York have also helped in sponsoring the Sunday dinners: St Michael’s, St. Rita’s, and St. Fortunata’s.

Community organizations have also played a vital role. The Garifuna Pastoral of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Emmaus Retreat House, La Comunidad de Siervos de Cristo, and the East New York Lions Club provide monthly support. Fr. Mason also highlighted the efforts of St. Paul Community Baptist Church, which has organized several large winter coat and clothing distributions for families in need.