The year 2004 marked the untimely passing of our friends Ron and Marjorie Lorenz. They were highly visible community activists, thinking globally, while acting locally, lending their tireless support to many worthy causes, particularly those addressing world hunger and poverty. They were also spiritual people, having associations with many churches in Manhattan, and they were advocates of the word, volunteering and contributing original literary compositions to the WORDS series here at OSA. They continue to live in the hearts and minds of those who knew them, and, through a generous gift of the Lorenz estate, will continue to touch our lives here at Our Saviour’s Atonement.

Two months prior to Marjorie’s death in December 2004, we spoke with her about a Ron Lorenz Memorial Library at OSA. She continued this conversation with the executor of the Lorenz estate just days before her own passing. In the winter of 2005, OSA received a donation of Ron and Marjorie’s personal library, and on July 3rd members of Ron’s family from Scotland presented OSA with a generous check with which to memorialize Ron and Marjorie. After much deliberation, it was decided the best use of these funds would be in the form of an all-access ground-floor chapel for the purpose of nourishing the body and spirit (bread, wine, meditation, prayer) and an upstairs library for the purpose of nourishing the mind (words). The OSA council approved extension and conversion of the sacristy to twice its present size for use as a chapel and to use the second-floor conference room as the library.

- Kathy Graley, Chairperson of the Lorenz Chapel / Library Committee

Read selected poetry by Marjorie Lorenz