The annual Christmas celebration for which the Knights provide the culinary manpower for the parish’s Children’s Faith Formation held on Sunday morning, Dec. 11, was another example of how math works for Council 8157. The call went out for “about 10” volunteers to work the event, with two hours of preparation preceding the serving hours of 8:30-11:30. There were almost 10 Knights already at work by 6:30, which prompted one brother who arrived at 6:25 to ask, “Were we supposed to come at 6?” More than 30 Knights and family members cooked a wide ranging breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash browns, biscuits, casserole, bacon and fruit cups for 317 guests.
And, of course, St. Nicholas himself is a council member. Leo Mattingly is a treasure for our council and our parish. The breakfast is just one of multiple area functions in which Leo’s Santa-like white beard makes him a magnet for young children at this time of the year.
The roll call of Knights who participated at the breakfast under the direction of our Director of Church Activities, Jim Stavinoha: James Smith (and daughter Jaimie and granddaughter Carolina), Allen Reitmeier, Lou Lemons, Andy Goza (and daughter Madison), Jeff Miller, Jim Richardson, Tom Greco, Jeff Traub, Jim Ouimet, Jose Montoya, Dan Keough, Jim Russell (wife Mary directed the children’s choir once again), Victor Zaragoza Jr., Sanka Jayasinghe, Larry Balagna, Jorge Ruiz, Ken Rarick, Jose Perales, Ray Rivera, Augustin Perez Sr. (and daughter Joanna), Jesse Radillo, La’Don Wright, Dan Murphy, Cris Valdez, Dan Kurtenbach and Ernest Alvarez Jr.
Deborah Pearson, Lisa Estrada and their elves had the parish gym decorated in the spirit of the season and collected the about 275 toys that will be provided to Brighter Tomorrows, one of Dallas County’s largest women’s shelters, along with $730 in donations. Devyn Buschow’s youth group provided a live Nativity scene.