FCSLA Junior Branches 39, 96, 106, 174, 322, 339, 382, 427 and the Chicago District co-sponsored their third annual Junior Member Christmas Party at noon on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at St. Simon Slovak Parish’s gymnasium. Approximately 45 children and 61 adults participated in snowman beanbag toss, cookie decorating, ornament making, face painting, a coloring contest, a few games of bingo and a raffle with four super-raffle prizes.
Svätý Mikuláš (St. Nicholas), Bishop in 4th Century Myra, Turkey arrived and, gathering the attendees around him, enlisted assistance from the children and adults in bringing to life the story of Svätý Mikuláš. The audience was enlightened and enraptured once again by the story of Svätý Mikuláš and his love for humankind. Svätý Mikuláš presented blessed holiday pins and candy canes to all the children and posed for both a group and individual photos.
The children and their guests feasted on a wonderful meal of chicken, beef, corn, mashed potatoes and pasta salad with vanilla and chocolate cakes for dessert.
Coloring contest winners each won a $25.00 Amazon gift card and were Gianna Barbaro-J339; Donna Jean Trumbull-J339; and Sarah Kuznetzow-J174. A raffle was held with four super-raffle prizes: a 24-inch Flat Screen TV won by Olivia and Jackson Satala, a Nook E-Reader won by Angela Bajek-J339, a $50 Best Buy Gift Card won by Jonah Zwit-J382 and a Skateboard won by Jason Laba. The raffle prizes were donated by Junior Branches 174, 382, 339, Senior Branch 287 and Kubina-Tybor Funeral Home. The Super-raffle Best Buy Gift Card was donated by Satala-Pac Funeral Home. A huge thank you to these branches and entities that donated the raffle and super-raffle prizes.
The holiday pins presented by Svätý Mikuláš were blessed by Fr. Kristián Libant (resident priest from Slovakia at St. Simon Parish) and lovingly created by Patti Minelli (S287) who made them for J339/S287 to donate to the children attending the party.
A special thank you to the Jr. Christmas Party Committee members: Barbara Mlinarich Schultz (J174/S258), Jeanette Palanca (J174/S258), Rosemary Mlinarich (J174/S258) Cathleen Lehocky (S485), Fay and Jarmila Hlubocky (J39/S295), Helen Bendik Grygus (J427/S274), Mary Beth Satala-Pac (S427/S274), Lorraine Gibas (J322/S421), Lydia Berry (S485), and Mary Therese Tylus (Chicago District President/J382/S485) for all their hard work and preparation in making this event another great success. A huge thank you to the Committee’s elves: Colleen Kopeck (J382/S485) Agnes Meske (J322/S421), Candy Pac, Ricky Schultz (J174), and Cameron Palanca (J174) and all the others whom we may have missed in this article for all their help in setting up, manning the activities tables, and clean-up. The children, their parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents had a wonderful time and all are looking forward to next year’s party and another visit from Svätý Mikuláš (St. Nicholas)!
To see photos from this event, visit the Chicago District Photo Gallery.
