The Atlantic Union Conference Haitian Ministries department recently held its annual “Young at Heart” banquets to honor senior citizens and their families. The department organizes two banquets each year—one in the New York City area and another for seniors in New England.
These gatherings have become cherished events, drawing between 200 and 300 attendees who come to celebrate and pay tribute to the matriarchs and patriarchs of their communities. Jose Joseph, vice president for Haitian and African ministries, describes the occasion as one of the department’s most meaningful events because it “brings value and honor to the lives of senior citizens.”
A highlight of each banquet is the crowning of the Young at Heart “king” and “queen,” titles reserved for the oldest man and woman in attendance.
The first banquet of 2025 took place in July at Goshen Temple Church in Brooklyn, New York, where attendees honored Daniel Michel, 95, and Bertha Principal, 109, as king and queen. The celebration continued in September in Leominster, Massachusetts, where Zachary Gilles, 102, and Abiale Rodriguez, 101, shared the title of king, and Marianne Michaud, 97, was crowned queen.
For many families, the banquet is more than a social event—it’s a joyful tradition that underscores gratitude and respect for the elderly. As one attendee remarked, “Not bringing a senior citizen to this banquet should be considered a crime.”
