Our Lady of Peace spaghetti feed funds church education

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ironwood - Father Robb Jurkovich rendered a beatific grin as he gazed around at dozens of people enjoying a Sunday spaghetti feed in the basement hall of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood.

"It's the most beautiful thing to see the community come together," he said. "That's what church is all about."

The 43rd Annual LaRosa Spaghetti Dinner was a two-day event that began on Saturday evening and ended Sunday evening.

According to Jurkovich, past dinners typically have brought in as much as $8,000 to $10,000 per year.

"It's always in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week, which is a national event," he said.

Jurkovich explained that the annual dinner is held on behalf of Our Lady of Peace Faith Formation and All Saints Catholic Academy, the church's adjacent school that currently welcomes students of all faiths through fourth grade.

Alison Schlag, Faith Formation coordinator, said that half the funds go for "baptismal through adult education" at the church and the other half go to the academy.

"It always goes to benefit education," said Schlag, who explained with Jurkovich that some funds also cover enterprises such as the church's youth group or mission groups and other evangelical causes.

"None of it goes to administrative costs," assured Schlag.

The academy funds will benefit the more than 60 little folk at All Saints Catholic Academy, where head teacher Emily Lightfoot said they have 31 children in pre-school through fourth grade and 30 in the infant and toddler room.

Schlag said the church distributed 1,300 plates of spaghetti last year. That kind of volume requires the help of "many hands," said Jurkovich, who added that, for starters, "Kimball Inn graciously donates the pasta."

Beyond that, other local businesses donated $25 each and were commemorated by being included in a list on the hall wall.

In addition, said Schlag, "Everybody volunteers. That's the great thing."

She said this year's volunteers ranged in age from four to 78, "so that's pretty good." She and Jurkovich said that different crews accomplished various tasks such as organizing, cooking, serving, cleaning and setting tables, offering beverages, clearing tables, processing takeout orders, and making deliveries to people unable to attend.

According to Jurkovich, the dinner also included a raffle with a $5,000 first prize, and that initiative required more volunteers, not only at the event, but in the weeks prior to it.

Schlag said volunteers came from the church, the school, the Knights of Columbus, and the community at large.

"It's a lot of fun," she said of the overall process, adding they received support even from people outside of their own parish.

Referring to Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, Schlag said, smiling, "We had lots of people walk over from Salem after church, so we all play nice together."

Cost for the dinners were $7 for adults and $4 for students ages five through 12. Children under five ate free.

Jurkovich welcomes local residents to participate in future dinners. "All are welcome to enjoy the best spaghetti in the area," he said.