The Tenth Annual Dinner-Dance was held at St. Augustine Priory, Oxnard, CA., on July 12, 2008. The event is a project of the St. Ezekiel Moreno Guild, with Alex Santos and Nona Solis as Coordinators. The crowd this year was one of the largest in the history of this annual event. The guests, younger than usual, entered into the spirit of the gala with great enthusiasm and enjoyment.

The food for the Dinner portion of the evening was prepared and served by the Chefs of the Knights of Columbus of Council 12805, of Mary Star of the Sea Church. A beautiful dinning area was created within the quadrangle amid the Priory cloistered walks. In keeping with the Oriental theme of this year’s festivity, the tables and the atmosphere were decorated with art and flower arrangements from various Asian Countries. Participants were encouraged to dress in Oriental clothing. A contest was held for the most authentic costume, which was won by Lina Bautista, one of the caregivers to the old and sick members of the Priory. She came dressed as a Japanese matron.

A Souvenir Program Booklet contained pictures of current members of the Priory community. Various important events of the past year, most notable of which was the Ordination to the Priesthood of Brother Michael Stechmann, OAR, were depicted. Shots from previous Dinner-Dances were also included, along with greetings from a variety of patrons and businesses, and letters from Father Charles Huse, OAR, Provincial, and Father Domingos Machado, OAR, Prior of the Priory.

Noteworthy among the guests were Dr. Augusto Focil, MD, and his Nursing Staff from the well known osteoporosis study, who favored us with their presence. They made the event their group project this year. They, together with a traditional group from Burbank, Santa Clarita and Glendale, (members or former members of Cristo Rey Parish in Glendale), accounted for the larger attendance this year. This group of friends has gathered annually for a number of years to support the Priory Dinner Dance

This annual event is not only successful as a means of providing funds for the education of student seminarians, it has become a prime social event of the Oxnard area, and is looked forward to by the local community.

Fr. James Brown, OAR