The evening of June 5 was filled will excitement as the Second Annual Seminarian Dinner was hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council #764 at Holy Spirit Parish in Huntsville. New this year was a holy hour of adoration prior to the event in the church. The evening began with a social hour, hors d’oeurves, and an opportunity to meet the seminarians while they are home for the summer. Bishop Raica opened the dinner with prayer. The event chair, Kevin Gordon, greeted the 230-person crowd and highlighted the three pillars for the event: showing support for our seminarians, increasing awareness for vocations, and raising funds for the Seminarian Education Fund. The event continued with an announcement naming the event in Father Michael Mac Mahon's honor for his impact on vocations. It was an enjoyable start to the evening. Emcee for the evening, Deacon Bob Becher, charmed the crowd with his comedy and a delicious Prime rib, prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary, was served with precision by the Knights and youth of Holy Spirit Parish.

The main focus of the night was hearing the seminarians speak about their experience in seminary. Eight different seminarians spoke about a different year in the process or unique program during seminary. Adding some amusement to the evening, the crowd was asked to identify fact or fiction when the seminarians each came up and provided two facts and one fiction about themselves. This year, the Knights raised over $60,000 for the Seminarian Education Fund. The evening ended with closing comments, announcement of the raffle winners, and prayer by Father Wyman Vintson. 

Raffle winners included Mary Nishimuta, 55" TV; Rudy Chavez, Alabama/Nick Saban Bundle; Marco Ortega, Antique Home Shrine; Kyle Becher, Beach Bundle; Chris McFarland, Buffalo Trace Bundle; Peter Trenkle, Church Street Wine Basket; Derek Sprinz, Burn Boot Camp Bundle; Judy Masters, Curated Wine Dinner; - John Martin, Stained Glass Angel; Katherine Huhlein, Day at the Lake; RJ Sollohub, Dinner with Seminarians; Mariana Olivas, Cask and Cork; Millie Steber, Framed Mass Painting; Don Kimmenau, Golf with Father Rick; Davis Reed, Indian Dinner; Patricia Taylor, Knobel Whiskey Bundle; Stephanie Karigan, Matt Growden Magic; Mariana Olivas, Pit Boss Smoker; Kristen Rogers, Premium Gas & Lee's Car Wash; Karen Harmon-Smith, Scotch Bundle; Julie Groark, Stock your Bar; Mark Jeude, Sweet Home Alabama Bundle; and Ted Henrich, Yeti Cooler.

“Many people might focus on the amount of funds raised for education fund” noted Gordon, “however, while those funds are much needed, the true impact of the event was the opportunity for the community to get to know our seminarians. Ultimately, through this event, we hope we can plant the seed for someone that will answer the call to the priesthood.”