Breakfast with St. Nicholas

14
Dec
Leo Mattingly as St Nick posing for photos with the kids.
St. Nick can be seen posing for photos in the background as other children await their turn.

 

Elves in the kitchen.
Elves in the kitchen, Ray Rivera, Allen Reitmeier, Dan Murphy, John Espree, Jim Ouimet, Jim Stavinoha. Out of view are Billy Callender and Jim Russell.

[dropcaps] T [/dropcaps] he small army of council elves provided an encore performance in preparing scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon and hash browns for what was an estimated 300 guests during the annual Children’s Faith Formation “Breakfast with St. Nicholas” for three hours on Sunday, Dec. 14. The KC brothers had finished fixing all of the eggs that had been bought well before the “big” crowd following the 9:30 Mass had arrived. So after the community center kitchen had been cleaned, back to work they went with the addition of egg substitute to make sure every guest was adequately served. Hats off to Andy Goza, Jim Stavinoha, Jeff Miller, Lou Lemons, Allen Reitmeier, Billy Callender, Jack Ramsden, Jim Russell, Ray Rivera, Jorge Ruiz, Nick Kleinhaus, Jim Ouimet, John Espree, Daniel Rosales, Larry Dumais, Larry Balagna, Gerald Jacob, Augustin Perez, Sr., Augustin Perez Jr., Al Alonzo, Abel Lugo, Jesse Radillo, La’Don Wright, Tom Greco, Dan Murphy and Gilbert Zuniga Sr. Plus additional assistance from the Goza and Lugo families along with students from Duncanville High.

Mary Russell conducts the Holy Spirit Children's Choir
Mary Russell conducts the Holy Spirit Children’s Choir.

Jim Russell’s wife, Mary, again conducted the children’s choir. And, of course, there was St. Nick himself. Leo Mattingly says he enjoyed it as much as ever. And how long has that been? Best he can tell, he has been filling this role since before Fr. Timothy Heines became our pastor back in the ’90s. Leo also plays Santa Claus at Charlton Methodist, where he’s a legendary volunteer all year long. Leo became a Knight in 1963 when living in South Texas in the town of Alice, joining a council in nearby Kingsville. Deborah Garrison, coordinator of the parish’s Children’s Faith Formation program, said about 300 toys were donated. That would be close to double the number collected last year. That will make for many happy children. And that should make every Knight happy, too.

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