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September 7, 2024

WORDS OF THANKS – The Parish Taste on September 7 was a great success. What a great turnout with more than a thousand people! We thank God for giving us good weather and all the good food that we had. I have received many compliments about our Taste on that Saturday. I wish I could take all the credit but I cannot. I just helped selling raffle tickets and mostly stood around talking or helped set up at the beginning and helped clean up at the end.

We are so grateful to all the people who worked so hard on the Taste. So many people donated so much: time, money, raffle items, desserts, food, and drinks! In a special way I am so grateful to all the staff for their hard work and dedication and to the volunteers from our parish!

The food booths all looked great and the food tasted delicious. I would like to thank the following families and organization for the food booths: the Lis family for the Polish food, Irma and Angel Rivera’s family for the Mexican food, my family and friends for the Vietnamese food, Linda Santelli, Carm DePillo, and Skip Marcucci for the Italian food, the Arenga family for the Filipino food, the Women’s Club for the walking tacos, Ruthanne Swiatkowski and the youth volunteers for the root beer floats, the Parents’ Club for hot dogs, and the School Board for pizzas. Thanks to the Scouts and those who helped with set up and clean up afterward. Thanks to Aimee Park, the Athletic members from our school, and all those who helped with crafts, face painting, and games for the kids. Many thanks to Oscar Tesoro and my friends for donating all the beer and Men’s Club and Athletics for serving the drinks. I also want to thank so many of our parishioners who helped by donating all the drinks, desserts, and raffle baskets.

Hugo Colin did a great job as Elvis and entertained us for one and half hours. We also had a chance to celebrate his birthday that evening. Hugo is a wonderful young man and a cantor at Mass, and he volunteered to entertain at the Taste. You can follow him on Facebook at Hugo’s Artist – Tribute Artist or go see him perform. Follow him @hugoselvista on Instagram. I would like to thank him and his family for providing great entertainment for us.

We are grateful to the Elms and Belmont Funeral Homes that helped fund part of the Grand Raffle prizes.

Charles Metz won the 1st prize of $1,000. The 2nd prize, a 65 inch Smart TV, was won by Anna Petras. Third prize of $250 was won by Maria Breezer.

I would like to thank the following sponsors for our Parish Taste: The Belmont Funeral Home, the Elms Funeral Home, Village Auto and Towing, Greg Derlacki, the Maraviglia Family, ORT Consulting, Viet Taste Restaurant, the Marcucci Family, Bill Zielinski, the Blonski Family, Margaret O’Donnell, Joseph Ceparano, and Tina Krzysko.

The Parish Taste was a terrific reflection of our parish spirit. It was a chance to see so many people get together to enjoy and have fun to end our summer. To one and to all – THANK YOU!!! May God bless you and reward you for all your good work!!!

I am now leading a group on a pilgrimage to Rome, Lourdes, and Fatima. I will keep you all in my prayers.

May God bless you and your loved ones!

In prayer,
Fr. Paul Cao
Pastor of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish