Comedy and Cuisine

Reprinted from the Chimes December 2008.

Get ready for a fabulous evening of dinner and entertainment at 2009 Comedy & Cuisine.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28, 2009. The event is again planned for the beautiful Hilton Omaha next to the Qwest Center. Comedy & Cuisine is a semi-formal dinner that includes live and silent auctions. Invitations will be sent in February.

The event is the primary fund-raiser for St. Cecilia Grade School and has raised more than $1.2 million since it was first held 10 years ago. Event chairs for 2009 are Rus and Marci Biven and Mike and Martha O’Connor. Chairs for 2010 are Michael and Kimberly Joyce and Mike and Julie Swartz.

Money raised in 2009 will be used to install fire-rated hallway doors and a new fire alarm system for our school. Additionally we will replace the chairs in St. Bernadette Hall (multi-purpose room) and begin replacing the desks and chairs for our students in their classrooms.

Honorary Chairs

We are pleased that Barry and Mary Agnes Gerken and Bob and Mary Kay Gerken are serving as Honorary Chairs of 2009 Comedy & Cuisine. Our school is proud that two such dedicated and outstanding couples have accepted those roles.

Barry and Bob are graduates of Saint Cecilia Grade School and Cathedral High School. Both couples have a long history of service and support for the school and parish. Their service as honorary chairs sends a strong signal that Comedy & Cuisine remains vital to the continued success of our school.

The two couples have played leadership roles on the Parish Council, Cathedral Arts Project, Home & School, Alumni Association, Cathedralfest and with many other school and parish activities. For decades, they have been among the strongest backers of our school and parish and they continue that role today.

Honorees

Each year Comedy & Cuisine selects honorees to recognize for their service. For 2009, Comedy & Cuisine will honor Leo Batenhorst as Great Steward and the Stoffels as Great Family.

Over the years, Leo with strong support from his wife, Rose, has served as a dedicated school employee, coach, festival leader and many other roles. Leo and Rose have been parishioners for 48 years.

You’ll see Leo making meatballs for the Cathedralfest spaghetti dinner or running the grill at school soccer parties. He brings energy and humor to all his volunteer work. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, an usher, funeral committee volunteer, bingo volunteer and he also repairs pews in the Cathedral. His favorite role is playing Santa at schools, retirement centers and parties.

Comedy & Cuisine is honoring the multiple Stoffel families and generations of Stoffels who have served as coaches, festival volunteers, outstanding school supporters and many other roles. Clarence “Mitt” and Mary Ellen Stoffel joined the parish in 1943 and with their 10 children became a vital part of the school and parish. Now Mitt and Mary Ellen’s children, grand-children and great-grandchildren are carrying on that tradition.

Over the years, 31 Stoffels have attended our school. At one point in the mid-1980s, 14 Stoffels were attending at the same time. Twenty-two Stoffels have been baptized at the Cathedral and nine have been married there.

Entertainment

Comedian John Paul Morgan will bring his high-energy talents to Comedy & Cuisine 2009. John, a New Orleans native, is a talented performer who was invited to participate in the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival and has opened for such performers as Jerry Seinfeld.

How you can help

We need more volunteers and auction items for the 2009 event so please contact the Bivens at 561-9471 or the O’Connors at 551-0333. Silent auction categories include home, kids, arts, jewelry and sports. Gift certificates for restaurants and services also are needed.

We also need donated packages for the live auction. These can include sporting events, concerts, gourmet meals, golf trips and vacations. Get creative. If you would like to contribute a cash gift to the Comedy & Cuisine underwriting effort, please contact Beth Klug at the Rectory, 551-2313.