Traditionally the Bishop’s Gala falls the week before Super Bowl weekend. But this year, the stars just weren’t in alignment. Luckily, since the Dallas Cowboys weren’t in the Super-Duper Bowl, it wasn’t a big deal that the Catholic Charities of Dallas fundraiser was being held on Saturday, January 31, the night before the professional football classic.
What was a big deal was the rain and the urging by signs at the Hilton Anatole to self-park. Some took the signage to mean there were no car parkers. Yipes! How they wished they had brought umbrellas. Sure, a little rain shouldn’t have been a deal breaker, but when the ladies are in their prettiest party frocks and the fellows are in tuxedos, it’s a pain to puddle hopscotch to the front door.
A few determined souls, who took a chance that valet might be just a little further up ahead, lucked out finding valets in the Anatole’s Tower porte-cochere.
But this silly weather situation didn’t deter the 950 filling the Chantilly lobby to check out the silent auction.
Nancy and Robbie Briggs
Dale and Dare Gillette
Just as the lobby seemed to be bursting to capacity, an announcement was made that the doors would open.
Well, they did and then they didn’t. A dozen couples made it into the ballroom and the doors closed. Seems there was a slight hiccup about getting things started. It didn’t last long and the doors once again opened and stayed that way for people like Gala Co-Chairs Kathy and Robert McDermott, Dare and Dale Gillette, Nancy and Robbie Briggs and Kasey Hollon. One of the last to enter the ballroom was Bishop Kevin Ferrell.
Kevin Farrell
Trying to get the guests to settle down, Emcee Fr. Timothy Heines of St. Joseph Catholic Church ended up sounding like Pat O’Brien with a bit of charm and humor — “We’ve been informed that the last one in is a rotten egg” and “Michael George, please take a seat” and “Okay, I’m going to start singing.” Finally, he resorted to the old “shshsh-ing” trick.
Timothy Heines
Finally with all seated, Fr. Tim said, “We want your money. I know we have a lot of non-Catholic guests here to see [the rock group] Chicago. And we have a lot of Catholics here who never go to mass but they’re here to see Chicago. We know Catholic things can be intimidating, so what we’ve done is to take all our Catholic worship experience and we’ve taken out everything except the collection. So, tonight it’s just going to be the collection. And if we have to pass the plate three or four times, we’re going to pass the plate three or four times.”
Mike Rawlings
The schedule took a bit of an interesting twist. Instead of Bishop Farrell giving the invocation, CC President/CEO Arne Nelson took over and a video on Catholic Charities was shown. The Anatole staff held its place on the sidelines for the sign to serve, but it wasn’t coming. Seems the Bishop hadn’t been given the cue to be on stage, so the video was moved up in the schedule. As tummies grumbled, the video concluded and Bishop Farrell arrived on stage. He said that they had dispelled with a lot of Catholic things, but “one thing I’m not giving up is the homilies.” He then proceeded with a state-of-the-union review and recognized Mayor Mike Rawlings in the audience for his efforts to help those in need — “He is truly a great leader… he’s closed the gap between North and South Dallas.” The Bishop told how two years before, he had asked Arne to take over and renovate Santa Clara Regional Community Center, and it’s now done. The Center’s swimming pool had even opened up after 15 years. As for the CC food pantry, it has tripled in size. More than 725 refugees, both Catholic and non-Catholic, had been helped to resettle in the area. Tummies continued to grumble. Servers continued to stand ready. Then the Bishop gave the invocation.
The moment the word, “Amen,” was over the PA, the servers hustled out to the tables like Kentucky Derby entries. But instead of saddles and riders, they carried lobster bisque and filet.
The rest of the evening was filled with activities (Heads and Tails, a live auction and the raffle drawing) that were both fun and profitable.
Then all settled back to Chicago on stage and dancing on the two dance floors on either side of the stage. The reason for the two dance floors? Organizers didn’t want to block the view of the stage for those who just wanted to sit back enjoy the legendary band on stage.