Maybe it was the homemade Italian meal, a chance to support Borromeo (College) Seminary, the opportunity to get a tour of the newly renovated seminary or the chance to rekindle relationships and make new friends after the difficult pandemic months. Something drew 200-plus people to the Center for Pastoral Leadership on Nov. 12.
Even cold, wet and snowy weather didn’t deter the crowd, who hailed from the eight counties in the Diocese of Cleveland as well as the Diocese of Youngstown and beyond. Seminarians greeted visitors in the CPL lobby, where they could check in, browse and purchase Borromeo paraphernalia including shirts, hoodies, stickers and glasses and peruse the bake sale items. Father John Paul, OFM Cap and his volunteers baked three dozen pies that could be purchased. The homemade nut rolls sold out quickly.
(See photo gallery above.)
As they headed to the Founders Room for dinner, attendees could view and bid on a variety of silent auction items including a “Bread of Life” painting, a lucky lottery tree, Raddell’s Sausage Shop gift basket, a car care basket, two baskets filled with Christmas candy and a stocking, morning coffee/evening wine basket, holiday beer, a world tour of wines and more, a Scotch assortment, bourbon basket and more. There also was a 50/50 drawing midway through the dinner.
Borromeo seminarians helped plan, set up, cook, serve, provide hospitality and clean up for the event.
The meal consisted of salad, bread sticks, rigatoni, homemade sauce, meatballs, sausage and cannoli. Faculty and staff, including Father Mark Latcovich, president and rector of both Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries, and Father Bill Bouhall, Borromeo spiritual director, manned the serving line where they dished out generous portions of the meal.
While enjoying dinner and conversation, attendees could watching a looped slide presentation of Borromeo students and activities.
After dinner, Father Pat Anderson, Borromeo director of human formation, led tours.
The group then gathered in Sacred Heart Chapel for night prayer before heading home.
Father Latcovich said he was pleased with the turnout. The annual event helps raise funds for Borromeo Seminary, which is the college seminary in the Cleveland Diocese.
Click here for more information on Borromeo or learn more about discerning the priesthood here.