Hostesses invited to Sparkle and Dine

St. Raphael Council of Catholic Women (CCW) is planning for its second annual Sparkle and Dine, to be held the evening of Monday, Feb. 12, at the Springfield Area Community Center. Sparkle and Dine is an elegant evening for women with beautifully decorated tables, catered meal by Tommy’s Central Street Steak House, a full cash bar, and a guest speaker. 

The inaugural event on Feb. 13, 2017, was a huge success.   Thirty-one tables were beautifully decorated in a variety of themes — and they sparkled, indeed! It was a fun and fascinating event for women of all faiths, where individuals and groups hosted a table, planned and carried out the theme. They didn’t do the cooking, however, as it was a catered meal.

The CCW is issuing an invitation to all who would like to be table hostesses to get in touch with Crystal Dauer at 612-910-4931, Ann Miesen at 723-5126 or 507-227-7907, or Vicki Roiger at 723-8864 or 507-822-1504 and arrange for a table.   Choose your theme, invite your friends, decorate the table, and enjoy and evening of fellowship, a good meal and speaker.

Featured speaker this year will be Beth Crosby from KJLY Christian Radio who will speak about “Gift of Love.” 

Proceeds from the event will go to Southern Minnesota Crisis Nursery located in New Ulm. The crisis nursery is a 24-hour home that provides a temporary safe and loving environment for children while supporting and strengthening families experiencing a stressful situation. The nursery protects children ages 0-12 when the adults in their life are dealing with a major stress.  The Crisis Nursery Center works closely with Catholic Charities and also provides spiritual care.  Other churches are involved as well. Some of the churches have provided bibles and bible books for the children, other churches have given faith kits for the children to work/play with while at the center.  For some of the children, their time at the crisis nursery is the first time they have been exposed to anything faith based. 

“The Crisis Nursery is young,” said Ann Miesen, one of the organizers of Sparkle and Dine.  “However, there is a rise in need. With the rising need of children and their families, there is a rise in financial costs. The nursery needs funding for more ‘everyday’ management needs of cooking and cleaning, in addition to licensed staff. These needs go way beyond the basic needs of children such as diapers, toys, maintenance on house, heat, etc.”