The 31st Knights Annual Seminarian Dinner

This past Saturday, March 14, right in the middle of our Lenten journey, Madonna Parish came together for a truly delightful evening. The Knights of Columbus Annual Seminarian Dinner gave our community a special opportunity to meet, share a meal, and show our loving support for the Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Newark.

It was a night filled with faith, great food, and inspiring stories. Here is a look back at the highlights of the evening:

A Warm Welcome and a Global Feast

The night kicked off with wonderful Welcome and Opening Remarks by Tony Rinaldi, setting a joyful tone for the evening. We were blessed to have Seminarian Marek Chmielewski lead us in grace before we ate.

The community then enjoyed a fantastic buffet dinner that reflected the diversity of our parish, featuring a delicious spread of Korean, Italian, and Cuban food!

Voices Lifted in Song

Music filled the room thanks to the Madonna Choir and the Korean Contemporary Music Team, led by Director Agnes Kim. They performed several moving pieces in English, Korean, and Latin. A truly unforgettable moment was when the Seminarians and Fr. Roberto Ortiz joined the choir to sing a reverent rendition of Salve Regina.

Special Presentations and Generous Gifts

We were honored to have Knights of Columbus State Officers Jim Sweeney, Russ Petrocelli, and John Quaregna in attendance, along with Mayor Paul Kim. They took the stage for some very special presentations:

• A Big Surprise: Nine-year-old Julia McElearney was surprised with an award for winning the International Soccer Challenge trophy for her age group. Way to go, Julia!
• Supporting Our Future Priests: The Knights of Columbus State and District presented a couple of large donation checks to the Seminarians to help support their education and journey.
• A Call to Serve: The Knights also issued a welcoming call for more men to join their ranks to help support the church, our seminarians, and the wider community.

Inspiring Journeys of Faith

To close out the evening, Fr. Roberto Ortiz from the Immaculate Conception Seminary briefly introduced each seminarian and shared some of their background..

Then Seminarian Joseph Grabowski shared the heartfelt story of his calling. He spoke about how, after graduating and working in the secular world for a few years, he finally heard and responded to God's call to become a Catholic priest. His journey is a powerful reminder of how God works in each of our lives.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and organized this amazing night. Your support means the world to our seminarians as they prepare to serve the Church!