In 1996, after receiving his Master’s degree in Divinity from Washington, D.C.’s Washington Theological Union, Paul Lostritto became a Roman Catholic Priest. He spent several years completing ministry work, and in 2008, he and co-founder David Convertino opened the Franciscan Food Center at St. Anthony Shrine. Located on Arch Street in Boston, Massachusetts, the center provides foodstuffs for 400 to 450 members a week, as well as instruction on how to plan and cook healthy dishes, which Lostritto provides in the center’s teaching kitchen. Serving his members with dignity and compassion remains a top priority for Lostritto, and he strives to maintain a welcoming, respectful atmosphere at the center. Paul Lostritto’s work is supported by both the Mayor’s Office and The Greater Boston Food Bank. Lostritto also receives donations from the CEO Council on Hunger, the community, the Boston Police Department, as well as companies such as Lavallee’s Bakery Distributors, US Foods, and Kayem Foods Inc. Lostritto supervises 125 volunteers who contribute their time to organizing inventory—some 5,000 to 10,000 pounds of food each week—and manning different food stations at the center. The Franciscan Food Center offers fresh bread and fresh produce, along with frozen meats and dairy products, and members select their own items to create a custom menu. Portions are offered in both family and individual sizes. Because the Food Center serves individuals and families from all walks of life, many of its volunteers—including Lostritto—are bilingual. Paul Lostritto has long dedicated himself to the service of others. He worked as a Staff Nurse at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut in the 1980s and undertook Franciscan ministries in New York and South America from 1989 to 2001. In addition, Lostritto is a certified HIV/AIDS counselor who has conducted clinical research for Columbia University. He also served as a Hospice Team Manager for Cabrini Medical Center in New York. Lostritto also presents lectures on the subjects of religion and scripture on a regular basis. Paul Lostritto has traveled around the world, visiting places in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa and hopes to visit all seven continents within his lifetime.
