"NOVA" : Shining brightly for an important cause

By Jay Nies

This year’s Night of Vocation Awareness will be a celebration of vocations in the Church and of all the people who make them happen. “Using Our Talents for Vocations” will be the theme for the event, which will be held on Friday, Feb. 17, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia. “It’s about getting everyone involved and using their talents to promote vocations,” said Father Joseph Corel, diocesan vocations director. “NOVA will be a fun way for us to affirm our commitment to the future work of the Church in this diocese.”

The purpose of the event, formerly known as the VIP Evening with the Bishop, is to support priestly and religious vocations in the diocese by promoting awareness and raising money for promotion and formation. A social hour and games will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner seating at 6:30 p.m. and by a program and live auction.

The evening’s upbeat entertainment will include:

•A serenade by a priestly trio consisting of Fathers Gregory Oligschlaeger, David Veit and Dylan Schrader;

•Toe-tapping tunes from Sisters Celly Ann Amparano, Barbara Niest, Kathleen Wegman and the rest of the School Sisters of Notre Dame community of the diocese;

•The crooning pipes of Deacon Tony Viviano, who hopes to be ordained to the Holy Priesthood this year;
•Stirring hymns sung by a chorus of deacons from throughout the diocese;

•A demonstration of flamenco dance by Enrique Castro, diocesan director of Hispanic and cross-cultural ministries.

“It’s going to be a great time,” said Jane Rutter, director of the diocesan stewardship office, who is helping to organize the event. “Like our efforts to cultivate vocations in the Church, this will be something really beautiful where everybody pitches in and does what they can.”

As always, Bishop Gaydos will be the host for the event. Honored guests will include priests, sisters and seminarians of the diocese, along with representatives of the seminaries where future priests of this diocese are in formation. The guests will be seated at tables throughout the banquet hall.

Kristie Wolfe, principal of Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia, will be the emcee. “It’s been such an honor to be a part of opening this school through which God is channeling us to reach the students in this area,” said Mrs. Wolfe. “And now I feel blessed to be able to offer my time and talents to expanding his reach throughout the diocese for the benefit of people beyond this school.”

Catholic grade school and CCD students at parishes throughout the diocese are creating three-dimensional centerpieces for the tables at the dinner. “The ones we’ve received so far are ingenious,” said Mrs. Rutter. “There’s a lot of creativity among the youth of our parishes.” Pre-dinner games will include such carnival favorites at the “Ring Toss,” “Tic-Tac-Toe Wiffle Ball” and the “Lollipop Tree.”

Among the many interesting items in the live auction will be a weekend trip to Washington, D.C., with a tour of the city by Father Daniel Merz, associate director of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Liturgy and Worship office; a day at the spa; a gardening kit with plants started by a master gardener; dinner with Bishop Gaydos; and some unique jewelry called Miracle Icons, consisting of vintage and antique medals of Catholic Saints made into jewelry.

Proceeds from the auction and from tickets to the event will benefit seminarian education expenses and ongoing education of priests and sisters in the diocese. After giving the final blessing at the close of the event, Bishop Gaydos will award a $1,000 prize to a lucky attendee. The winner must be present at that time to claim the prize.

Tickets to the event are $100 per person. For more information, contact the diocesan Stewardship Office at (573) 635-9127, or e-mail: stewardejr@diojeffcity.org.