A Walk Through Italy Gala 2017

Italian décor, music, menu items and even a “trip to Italy” were enjoyed by about 120 people who gathered for a “Walk Through Italy” gala dinner on Saturday evening, June 3, 2017, in the Mount Saint Joseph gymnasium at Maple Mount. The event was a fundraiser for the ministries of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph.

Each person received a passport to Italy, where he or she “traveled” through four cities of significance to Saint Angela Merici, the founder of the Ursuline Sisters. Guests enjoyed appetizers, followed by a buffet meal of chicken marsala and a seafood medley. Entertainment included an Italian song, a Saint Angela Merici skit, speakers and two Italian-themed auction items.

Here are pictures from the event:

A place setting at the gala dinner.
Sister Amelia Stenger, congregational leader of the Ursuline Sisters, welcomes everyone to the dinner.
The master of ceremonies was local meteorologist Ron Rhodes. He told the audience that the hardest weather to predict is snow. He was called Mr. Flurry once after he predicted snow flurries instead of the actual heavy snowfall.
Saint Angela Merici (aka Sister Marietta Wethington) blesses everyone at the gala.
Associate Doreen Abbott, right, volunteered for the gala, here helping keep the appetizer table filled.
Tony Russell, left, and Dustin Mullins helped serve drinks at the gala. Dustin is married to director of Development Betsy Mullins, who organized the gala.
Al and Molly Thompson, left, smile as they await their turn at the appetizer table.
Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger, left, sells raffle tickets to Ann Jacobs at the gala. This year’s raffle drawing will take place Sept. 10 during the new MapleFest at the Mount.
The leaders and some of the Young Daughters of Saint Angela group from Whitesville, Ky., volunteered at the gala. Here they took advantage of the “photo booth” in front of a picture of Brescia, Italy. Pictured, left to right, are Associate and YDOSA leader Doreen Abbott, Maggie Foster, co-leader Julie Foster, Paige Crabtree and Rayleigh Chaffin.
Sister Ruth Gehres, left, Sister Sharon Sullivan and Marian Bennett, coordinator of Ursuline Partnerships, await the start of the event.
Betsy Mullins, left, director of Development for the Ursuline Sisters, tells guests Charlotte Hedges, center, and Sonya Evans their table number. Hedges and Evans both work for the Diocese of Owensboro, which sponsored a table.
Sabrina Farley, right, directs Shirley and Ernie Taliaferro to begin their “journey through Italy.”
Associate Suzanne Reiss, left, smiles as she enters the dinner and speaks to Sherri Heckel. In the center of the picture is Sister Mary Matthias Ward, and far left, Sister Rose Jean Powers.
The passports that were given to each person at the gala. At each station where visitors learned about Saint Angela Merici, they were given stamps for their passport.
Sister Pat Rhoten, left, tells guests that Saint Angela Merici was born between 1470-1475 in Desenzano, Italy
Sister Marcella Schrant shares with guests that Angela Merici saw her vision about founding the company in Brudazzo, Italy
Sister Rebecca White talked about Saint Angela’s trip to visit Rome in 1525, about the same time that the Italian Renaissance was about to end.
Lauren Calhoun plays the guitar and sings an Italian song to entertain the crowd. She has performed in plays for Theatre Workshop of Owensboro.
The Mount Gymnasium was filled for the gala. Here, guests listen as Lauren Calhoun sings on stage
Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly spoke about his connections with the Ursuline Sisters. He said that the Ursulines who taught him had a major impact on his life.
Dan Heckel spoke about how working for the Ursuline Sisters has blessed his life. He has been the director of Mission Advancement for the past 10 years.
A young Saint Angela Merici (portrayed by Lauren Calhoun) banters with emcee Ron Rhodes about how excited she is to see the crowd on hand.
Sister Amelia Stenger talks about the seven-course Italian dinner that she will cook for the lucky auction winner. The meal will serve eight to ten people. To her left is Ron Rhodes, the master of ceremonies. Sister Amelia also made Italian limoncello which was auctioned off for $250.

Comments

  1. S.Rosemary Keough

    Beautiful! Thanks for the informative photos! Looks like a memorable event.

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