Seminarian Cameron Farrell, dressed in a dark suit and wearing a headset, walked around the Founder’s Room, the lobby, the Aula and other areas of the Center for Pastoral Leadership to keep tabs on the crowd and seminarian volunteers at Novemberfest.
Farrell, a IV Theology student, was chairman for the annual fall fundraiser, which drew about 400 guests to the CPL on Nov. 16 for a homemade Italian dinner.
“I’ve been here eight years,” Farrell said, noting his time at both Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries. “I’ve had a lot of experience with the event, so when Father (Andy Turner, the seminaries’ president/rector) was looking for someone to chair it, I offered.” Farrell is a member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Doylestown.
Deacon Jeffrey Lindholm of St. Raphael Parish in Bay Village, was one of the seminarians on duty in the lobby helping to sell tickets as guests arrived. Their next stop was the Aula, where Sean Neville of St. Mary of the Falls Parish in Olmsted Falls, another seminarian, made seating assignments. In a back corner, seminarian Nathan Frankart of St. Joseph Parish in Amherst coordinated the evening’s three 50/50 drawings. And in another corner, Deacon James Parisi of St. Hilary Parish in Fairlawn, was posted at a table offering information about priestly vocations.
As guests made their way to the Founder’s Room, they could stop by a table and peruse Borromeo swag that was on sale at reduced prices to make way for new merchandise. At a second table, seminarians were selling homemade apple and blueberry rhubarb pies baked by seminarians under the watchful eye of Father John Paul Kuzma, OFM Cap. They used Father Kuzma’s mother’s recipes.
Once they reached the Founder’s Room, guests were greeted by seminarian Johannes Benninghoff of St. Clarence Parish in North Olmsted, who served as the maître’d. After getting their dinner, which was served by seminary formators, including members of the faculty and staff, guests were shown to their tables. The menu included a tossed salad, garlic bread stick and penne pasta with homemade marinara sauce, homemade meatballs and Italian sausage.
Borromeo seminarians mixed 100 pounds of ground meat and rolled hundreds of meatballs in preparation for the dinner.
Alex Demko, CPL chef, prepared 30 gallons of homemade marinara sauce. He also cooked 60 pounds of dry penne pasta and 200 pounds of Italian sausage with peppers. After dinner, guests enjoyed cannoli and Italian ice for dinner. They also had a chance to purchase tickets for a silent auction featuring a handmade Nativity quilt and a charcuterie board.
Transitional deacons from the seminary guided interested guests on tours to see and learn about the recently renovated Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel. For many visitors, it was the first time they’d seen the chapel, which was renovated as part of the Heart of a Shepherd campaign.
The crowd included Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity, several priests, deacons, seminarian family members and friends.
“Proceeds benefit the student activity fund,” Father Turner said. The fund allows seminarians to enjoy activities and events outside of their regular formation. “It funds things like transportation, church tours, cultural events such as orchestra performances, sports events and dinners,” he added.
Guests seemed to enjoy the event, with many complimenting the chefs and servers.
“I think it went well,” Farrell said. “People seemed to be pleased.”
And nobody went home hungry.
Learn more about Borromeo (college) and Saint Mary (graduate) seminaries as well as discerning a possible priestly vocation.