Windsor-Essex gathers to fund seminary education and honor long-serving bishop

The Ciociaro Club in Windsor-Essex is preparing for a crowd of nearly 700 guests this evening.

The gathering marks the 19th annual Windsor-Essex Bishop’s Dinner. Proceeds from the event will support St. Peter’s Seminary. This year also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the seminary’s historic building in London, which opened in 1926.

The dinner serves two primary religious functions. It welcomes Bishop Daniel Miehm, the newly installed Bishop of the Diocese of London. It also honors Bishop Emeritus Ronald P. Fabbro, who served the diocese for 24 years.

Gabriella Catolino, Interim Executive Director of St. Peter’s Seminary Foundation, stated that the evening allows the community to meet the students directly. "We’re celebrating our seminarians. We have all of our seminarians, I think 28 of them coming to the event to host tables and be present to the community as well so they can see firsthand where their support goes."

The funds raised help cover the expenses of educating future priests and lay ministers. Seminarians undergo approximately eight years of study before ordination. Catolino noted that the cost of this training is high. "It is supporting seminarians through eight years of study before they become ordained to be priests.. it costs a lot of money and so the community’s support of this organization is vitally important and we need to continue to grow."

Under the leadership of new rector Father Peter Keller, the seminary is evaluating hybrid learning models to deliver its curriculum. Catolino described the evening as a community effort involving local members in planning and execution. St. Anne’s jazz band will perform during the reception.

The dinner began in 2004 and has expanded annually since then. The evening agenda includes a keynote address from Bishop Miehm and a tribute to Bishop Fabbro. Guests will also have the opportunity to connect with the 28 seminarians attending the event.