by Carole Anne Scott

On Sunday, August 7, most of those affiliated with “Heart Beats,” including writers, production assistants, the women who affix the mailing labels to the paper, photographers, business managers, and friends gathered at the home of the editor to celebrate the paper’s sixteenth year of publication. Joining in the festivities was none other than “Heart Beats” founding father, Rev. George D. Vartzelis, former pastor of Sacred Heart Parish who is now enjoying his retirement at Youville in Cambridge. Along with Father Vartzelis, Rev. Ronald D. Coyne, former associate pastor at Sacred Heart, was present, also to the delight of those assembled.

Making it difficult to believe that there really is a shortage of priests, no less than five prelates joined us that day, including Sacred Heart’s current associate pastors, Rev. John Mendicoa and “Heart Beats” regular writer, Rev. Timothy Keareny, along with our visiting friend from Ghana, Father Peter Ayorogo.

Picture-perfect summer weather was the order of the day, but there were no takers for the pool. Instead people contentedly dined on food and on fine conversation. Included in the beverage list were glasses of the staff’s favorite treat, frozen mudslides, served up frosty and fresh from the blender.

Sixteen years is a long time for a volunteer staff to keep working on any project. Present at the party were the following people who have been around since the paper’s inception: Joan Brown, Maureen Devine, Pauline Freeley, Dick Matulis, and Carole Anne Scott. The group assembled for a special commemorative photo with Father Vartzelis.

Among the invited guests was Marty Allen, founder of “The Grapevine,” at St. Brendan’s in Dorchester, a paper similar to “Heart Beats.” In “The Grapevine’s” early days, the “Heart Beats” staff traveled to Dorchester to provide the fledgling reporters with pointers. Marty did a great job as editor for all five years the paper was in existence.

All in all, it was a very happy birthday celebration, one which, God willing, will hopefully be repeated next year as “Heart Beats” celebrates an even sweeter seventeen years.