By KSCV State Secretary Andrew Vaccaro
It was a great day at Corpus Christi College Seminary on Pentecost Sunday for the long awaited post-COVID return of a long standing tradition, the Mass and Lunch to officially launch the Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC) Victoria’s flagship social event, the KSC Archbishop’s Dinner for the Priests Support and Education Fund, which will be held at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Friday August 20, 2021.
For many years now, Pentecost Sunday has seen KSC Members, along with the organisers of the Dinner and sponsors meet with CCC seminarians and staff to not only launch the Dinner, but to also present two seminarians with bursaries to assist them with a trip to the Holy Land as part of their priestly formation. These bursaries are provided by the contributions of former BHP Billiton Director John Ralph AC and his wife Barbara, in honour of the late Cardinal John Foley, and from the estate of the late Walter P Martin, former State Chairman of the KSCV. Many seminarians have received this honour over the years, such as Marcus Goulding and Nathan Rawlins, now priests within the Melbourne Archdiocese.
Today’s event featured a return to that tradition, though due to the uncertainty about international travel in the near future, no bursaries were presented. Instead, Deacon Samuel Pearson, who was a recipient of the bursary in 2019, spoke on his experiences in the Holy Land prior to the COVID travel restrictions, and how it assisted with his formation. Seminary Rector Fr Denis Stanley commenced proceedings by celebrating Mass in neighbouring Sacred Heart Church, before all guests were invited to the Seminary dining room (the “Cluny Dining Room”) for lunch. KSCV State Chairman and Priests Support and Education Fund Chairman Carmine Miranda formally launched the Archbishop’s Dinner by addressing the attendees, featuring members of Melbourne’s Catholic community.
The Archbishop’s Dinner has been held annually since 1999 (with the exception of 2020 of course!) to raise money for the education of Victoria’s seminarians (from all 4 Victorian dioceses), and in recent years the Military Ordinariate of Australia to train Chaplains for the Australian Defence Force. In that time, over the course of 21 Dinners, it has raised over $1.3 million for this worthy cause, assisting the seminarians with their text books and other educational needs. Last year was particularly noteworthy, as the PSEF Committee was able to raise $60,000 without the benefit of a Dinner, thanks to the loyalty and dedication of our sponsors and donors.
A great way for Catholics from all walks of life to connect, the Dinner is one of the biggest social events of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne’s calendar, and has featured many speakers, including then Archbishop George Pell in its inaugural year, Sir Peter Cosgrove, The Hon. Tim Fischer, Susan Alberti, and Andrew Bolt, who addressed the Dinner twice, in 2003 and 2018. Even the aforementioned Fr Marcus Goulding took part in a Q and A session with other seminarians in 2016 in lieu of a speaker.
On behalf of the KSC PSEF Committee, it is my pleasure to announce that this year’s guest speaker will be none other than the Archbishop of Melbourne himself, the Most Reverend Peter A Comensoli, with famous race caller Bryan Martin OAM as our Master of Ceremonies. Tickets are now on sale for $150 a head. The night will feature a silent auction, a raffle and an open auction conducted by real estate agent Bryan Cain.
The KSC Archbishop’s Dinner continues the long tradition of the KSCV supporting Corpus Christi College and the seminarians who constitute it. Its inaugural State Chairman, famed real estate agent Thomas Michael Burke, played a significant role in the establishment of the Seminary back in 1922, donating £5,000 ($421,000 adjusted for inflation today) to the overall £70,000 ($5.9 million today) needed for the purchase of Werribee Park, the home and estate which would soon accomodate Victoria’s seminarians.
For more information about the Dinner, or if you wish to purchase a ticket, contact the following Committee Members:
Val Sumner: 0412 029 389
email valsumner@bigpond.com
Carmine Miranda: 0412 817 995
email carmine@vicinsurance.com.au
Nadia Bolzonello: 0407 055 237
email giveback@optusnet.com.au
Andrew Vaccaro: 0404 390 824
email avaccaro@internode.on.net
Cost- $150.00 per person
RSVP – Friday 6th August 2021
PICTURES: Jean-Sebastien Gery and Andrew Vaccaro.