Shamrocks and shenanigans

Bagpipes. Irish dancers. A chance to buy dinner with the bishop. This fundraiser had it all.

A bagpiper alerted attendees it was time to end the cocktail party and move inside for dinner

Perhaps that’s why 500 people – a record for this event – showed up at the Knoxville Convention Center Thursday for “An Emerald O’ccasion,” a fundraiser for Catholic Charities now in its 25th year.

Ever since we’ve been going to this event, the beloved Father Ragan Schriver, executive director of Catholic Charities, has been the good natured star of the show. Last year, wearing a leprechaun costume, he was nearly attacked by a seeing eye dog that he accidentally startled. This year, the worst that happened was that he had to dance an Irish reel with a cute little girl who was so nervous you could almost see her heart pounding.

Father Schriver has been a long-time fixture at All Saints Church on Cedar Bluff Road. But recently, in addtion to his Catholic Charities duties, he has been assigned to a new parish in Seymour. That has been the subject of many sarcastic remarks from west Knoxvillians who look with somewhat disdain on the southern part of our county.

But last night, the folks from Seymour filled two tables at the toney fundraiser and they broke into enthusiastic whoops and hollers when Father Schriver said from the stage: “Knoxville is not the center of the universe. I’m thinking maybe Seymour is!”

One of the high points of the night was the auctioning off of a dinner for 10 with the diocese’s new bishop, the Most Reverend Richard F. Stika. Bishop Stika will celebrate his one-year anniversary with the diocese today, March 19. The dinner was donated by Connor Concepts, the owners of Chop House and Connor’s restaurants. High bidder was Vince Fusco, who offered up $3,500 on behalf of Greg Dunn of Regal Cinemas, who was out of town and had to miss the dinner. I know Greg Dunn and I can assure you he is going to have a great time at this dinner!

We are going to show you photographic highlights of the evening, of course. But first, a word about Catholic Charities, which last year served 23,000 people, 95 percent of whom were not Catholic. Among other facilities and services, Catholic Charities operates Columbus Home, a group home for teen boys who are separated from their families; Children’s Emergency Shelter, which provides safe, short-term housing for children in immediate endangerment; Parent Place, a safe place for court-ordered supervised visitation; counseling services; disability housing services; and Samaritan Place, which provides housing and respite care for older adults.

Harpist William Lovelace entertained during the opening cocktail party

Ron and Barbara Riberich pose with Father Ragan Shriver, center

Election Commission administrator Greg Mackay with Bishop Richard Stika

Appellate Judge Charles Susano, center, with his wife, Carolyn, and Mike Cohen

Sister Margaret Turk and Jerry Askew seated for dinner

Ann Bodie and John Sheridan

John and Debbie Geppi

Students from the Drake School of Irish Dance

These cute little kids are so serious about this

Frank Murphy from Star 102.1 was a great auctioneer

Father Ragan Shriver, far right, introduces his parents Julia and Bob Schriver, to Bishop Richard Stika

Father Ragan Schriver poses with his parents, Julia and Bob Schriver

Tami Hartmann of Moxley Carmichael was chair of the event. She poses here with husband, Bruce.

They sold the beautiful centerpieces for $20 each. This is the one I selected.

My sweet husband, Alan, with our centerpiece

I’ll leave you with an Irish blessing attributed to St. Patrick:

May the strength of God pilot us;

May the wisdom of God instruct us;

May the hand of God protect us;

May the word of God direct us.

Moxley Carmichael was honored to have donated the graphic design for the invitations and programs for this great event.