
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
- & 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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