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A Pig for the PArish
Avoca church’s pig roast an annual affair By Josh McAuliffe
special to The Triboro Banner Churches love their multi-day summer picnics. But the parishioners at Avoca’s Queen of the Apostles Parish have been trying something a little different the past few years — a good, old-fashioned pig roast. The concept has proven to be a rousing success and reliable revenue generator, so, on Sunday, July 23, the parish will host its sixth annual All-You-Can-Eat Pig Roast. The festivities will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Parish Hall in the former St. Mary’s School, at Hawthorne and Spring streets in Avoca. Tickets are $20; $10 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and younger, and are available in advance or at the event. To purchase tickets or for further information, call the parish office at 570-4573412 or visit the Queen of the Apostles Facebook page. According to event publicity coordinator Jackie Galvin, the idea for the pig roast came a few years ago when the parish hall was undergoing kitchen
renovations that made holding that year’s summer picnic all but impossible. “We thought, ‘How are we going to be able to cook all that food for a three-day festival?’” Galvin said. “So then we figured, ‘We’ll just do a one-day event where we can do the cooking outside.’” On top of that, she said, a one-day event made it easier to round up enough volunteers. “It worked out, and it’s been a real success,” Galvin said of the pig roast. “It’s something different and people really seem to like it.” The pig is cooked right on the spit for all to see. And, true to the event’s name, attendees can go back and fill up their plate as many times as they desire. Meanwhile, the menu will also include corn on the cob, shucked by a big group of volunteers, plus salads, wimpies, hot dogs, soda, water and plenty of homemade desserts. In addition, there will be a cash-prize grand raffle, a few dozen basket raffle items, children’s games and a bake sale. To prevent against any inclement weather, the pig roast will take place under a tent on the grounds and inside the parish hall. For those who don’t want to stick around, takeout dinners will be available all day.
Parish women’s guild president Jeanette Gronski and pig roast organizer Paul Franceschelli cook potato pancakes at a previous Queen of the Apostles pig roast.
The parish holds a few other fundraisers throughout the year, including a chicken dinner and a night at the races. The pig roast, however, has become the most profitable venture, Galvin said. The parish pastor, Rev. Phillip J. Sladicka, is among the event’s biggest fans. “He’s really supportive of it. … He’s very appreciative of what the parishioners do to help,” Galvin said. “And he’s really good about letting the parishioners know where the money goes. I think they appreciate that.” Hopefully, Galvin said, the weather will play along and the pig roast will draw its typically robust crowd of hungry patrons. “You see a lot of faces that aren’t fa-
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miliar to you, and you get to meet up with friends you don’t get to see all that often,” she said. “It’s a really nice event.” If you go What: Queen of the Apostles Parish sixth annual All-You-Can-Eat Pig Roast When: Sunday, July 23, noon to 4 p.m. Where: Queen of the Apostles Parish Hall, Hawthorne and Spring streets, Avoca Details: Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger, and are available in advance or at the event. To purchase tickets or for further information, call the parish office at 570-457-3412 or visit the Queen of the Apostles Facebook page. 1313 Wyoming Ave., Exeter
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