Volunteer Recognition Dinner – The past 3 years, we ended the year with a New Year’s Eve Mass at 5pm and a dinner to honor and thank the many volunteers in our parish. What made this year special was that we were able to celebrate it in our new hall. Many of the volunteers who came that evening commented on how magnificent the hall looked. Even though it is the same size, but the removal of the wooden panels that covered the walls and painting them white made the hall seem larger and brighter. Having the windows backlit also added to the beauty of the room. And in place of florescent lamps, the simple light fixtures on the ceiling and around the side of the wall made the hall look elegant.
About 100 volunteers and their spouses attended the evening. They were treated from our new bar with anything from wine to a tasty punch. The egg rolls that were served as appetizers disappeared as quickly as they appeared. The dinner and dessert were excellent as was the table company. We were also able to show off our new projector that can not only project computer slides, but cable TV programs as well. Mr. Gus Del Puerto, the unofficial parish photographer, showed slides of events that happened in the past year from the Easter vigil, to the children’s Vacation Bible School, teens making sandwiches for St. Vincent de Paul, new Mother’s Club officers being installed, the Knitting Group making scarves for the homeless, parish picnic and much more…
Thanks to a few generous donors, we gave away over a dozen appreciation gifts from movie theatres, passes to the zoo, gift certificates at local restaurants, to dinner with the priests and sisters of St. Brendan. Track Coach John Woods and Assistant Coach, Officer Chris Putz also gave us some clothes with St. Brendan logo that were highly sought after by the youth. The cooks who prepared our meal marveled and delighted in cooking at our new kitchen facility. They brought with them some dance music so after the desserts, slide show and prizes, some took to the dance floor to dance the night away. However, as this was a more seasoned group, they turned in their dancing shoes by 9pm and returned home to celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their homes.
On behalf of our entire parish community, we wish to express our gratitude to all of you who volunteer at our parish. Every day of the week, there are volunteers who help us from opening up the Church and setting up for mass, to counting the Sunday collection, visiting the homebound, to advising me in financial matters or the direction and mission of our Church. We’re blessed by you and may God richly bless you in return.
Fr. Dan
