Saint Mary Seminary hosted its annual fundraiser on Feb. 22 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe.
Event organizers said Winter Festival raised more than $7,000, breaking the record to become the most successful fundraiser ever. Proceeds will benefit Saint Mary Seminary’s Student Activities Fund. The money provides for activities such as plays at Playhouse Square or trips to museums, as well; as in-house social events at the seminary.
The event, which previously had a Mardi Gras theme, was reinvented as Winter Festival this year. The seminarians served an Eastern European meal that they helped to prepare. The menu included stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikash and kielbasa and sauerkraut. Coffee and paczki were served for dessert. Nearly 500 meals were served.
The event was attended by family and friends of the seminarians, as well as others from throughout the diocese who came to show their support for the seminarians. Among the attendees was Bishop Nelson Perez. He mingled with the crowd, going from table to table to visit with and talk to guests.
Joe Menkhaus, Max Menkhaus and Pablo Lopez performed live music at the Winter Festival.
In addition to the sales of meals, there were multiple 50/50 raffles. Also, themed raffle baskets were donated by parents of seminarians and parents of priests, as well as some benefactors such as Catholic radio station AM 1260 The Rock and the Serrans of Cleveland. Among the raffle baskets was a handcrafted children’s rocking police motorcycle.