Worship, Eating and Dancing at International FoodFest

By The Catholic Accent
Photos by Mary Seamans

GREENSBURG – More than 250 people from around the Diocese came to Christ Our Shepherd Center for an International Food Fest on Aug. 25 that featured a wide array of international cuisine and entertainment. In part, the event was organized to welcome back visiting Bishop Medill Sacay Aseo of the Diocese of Tagum in the Philippines. The event also served as a way to thank Bishop Aseo and the more than 20 missionary priests currently serving the Diocese of Greensburg. Proceeds raised from the evening will support vocations formation in the Diocese of Tagum. The Diocese of Tagum has the largest number of missionary priests serving the Diocese of Greensburg

The event, sponsored by St. Rita Parish, Connellsville, St. Mary, Mother of God Parish, Freeport, Country Manor Motel, and Dr. Primo and Henna Bautista, began with Mass in St. Joseph Chapel, concelebrated by Bishop Larry J. Kulick and Bishop Aseo. Before being named Bishop of his Diocese, Bishop Aseo was a missionary priest in the Diocese of Greensburg, serving parishioners as a Parochial Vicar at St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadelupe Parish in Kittanning and St. Mary, Mother of God Parish in Yatesboro.

After Mass, Bishop Aseo remembered a dinner conversation he had with then-Vicar General Kulick shortly after it was announced by Pope Francis that Father Medill was now Bishop elect of Tagum.

“I told him I would like to be of help in your diocese and in my capacity, I would like to send more Filipino priests to serve in you in  the International  Priests Program international priests program,” he said. “That is my commitment.”

In return, the Diocese of Greensburg committed to help with the formation of priests in the Diocese of Tagum.

 “At this time, our seminary is not conducive to the learning and the training of our priests,” Bishop Aseo said. “The seminary is in part of the city, and we are wishing to move it farther away so that it is conducive for learning.”

Bishop Kulick thanked Bishop Aseo for his generosity in sending missionary priests to the Diocese of Greensburg, 

“You, as a shepherd, are helping all of us to love God more through the priests who are ministering in our parishes,” Bishop Kulick said.

Bishop Kulick spoke about a recent call he had with a Filipino bishop who, despite having a priest shortage of his own, said he would send at least one international missionary priest to the Diocese of Greensburg.

“He said that it cannot be seen that any one is too big or large to receive. “And no one is too small to give,” he said. “All of us have come to know that the more we give, the more we receive.”

Following the Mass, those in attendance were able to travel through Christ Our Shepherd Center and have a taste of Eastern European food and entertainment from the Joe Porembka Orchestra playing polka music. They could also visit the Italian Room for meatballs, polenta and cheese-stuffed rigatoni with Italian American favorites played by D.J Dave Penn. In the Filipino room, traditional dancing was provided by the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh Dancers and a selection of lumpia Shanghai, veggie pancit, dry chicken adobo and vegetable fried rice.

International desserts like the Filipino cassava cake, Eastern European bread pudding and Italian tiramisu were on the menu.

Parish and Business Sponsors
SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, PERRYOPOLIS

CLEMENTL. PANTALONE FUNERAL HOME, INCORPORATED

CASTILLO ENTERPRISE

SAINT MARY, MOTHER OF GOD PARISH, FREEPORT

DOCTORS ERSON AND ELOISA RELIGIOSO

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, SCOTTDALE

SAINT JOSEPH PARISH, EVERSON

FRIENDS OF SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON PARISH, NORTH HUNTINGDON

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH, MASONTOWN

BUD AND KATHY MERTZ

THE HISTORIC CHURCH OF SAINT PETER, BROWNSVILLE, AND SAINT CECILIA PARISH, GRINDSTONE

ROOM SPONSORS

FILIPINO ROOM

SHIRLEY LAZAR AND CHUCK SWANTEK

DONALD AND GRACE MITCH

JOHN NEMEC

OLDENBURG PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF GAUDALUPE PARISH, KITTANNING

DON AND MARY SPAEDER

  1. & MRS. HOMER ZUCCONI

EASTERN EUROPEAN ROOM

FRIENDS OF SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON PARISH, NORTH HUNTINGDON

THE SEDLOCK FAMILY

SARAH KOVACH THOMPSON STATE FARM

JOHN AND HOLLIE UCCELLINI

 

ITALIAN ROOM

CINTI CHIROPRACTIC

THE MIELE FAMILY

PAUL AND LAURIE PULEO

 

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