Photo Caption: Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, who is observing his 10th anniversary as Bishop of Peoria, is pictured with Sister Ana Pia Cordua, SCTJM, president of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Peoria.

Those who attend the Bishop’s Gala on Friday, June 1, will come away with new tastes, a revived spirit and a concrete sense of where Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria has been and where it’s going.

“One of the missions of this event is to let people know that Catholic Charities is still here,” said Carla Jockisch, senior development associate for Catholic Charities. “Though it’s different, it’s still here.”

Details about the new direction for Catholic Charities will be unveiled at the gala, which is also an opportunity to honor Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, on his 10th anniversary as the spiritual leader of the Diocese of Peoria. Jockisch said the event will be infused with the bishop’s favorite things so that people can get to know him as a person.

The Bishop’s Gala will begin at 6 p.m. and be held at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. A six-course meal with “saintly fare,” such as Xavier Soup with St. John’s Bread, St. Peter’s Fish with Herbs, St. David’s Leek Pie and St. Francis Pudding, will be served and presented in such a way that people will learn something about each dish.

Jockisch said that rather than having entertainment before and after the dinner, musicians from the Peoria Symphony Orchestra will play throughout the evening. Guests will also hear selections from the Peoria Area Civic Chorale Youth Chorus.

Between each course there will be a “muse” — introductions of Bishop Jenky and Catholic Charities, a reading of Bishop Jenky’s favorite Scripture passage and poem, and comments from special guests who are coming from the University of Notre Dame and both coasts. Jockisch said these are intended to be a surprise and that the bishop himself does not know exactly who will be on hand for the event.

BENEFITING THE MISSION
While the gala is honoring Bishop Jenky, he only agreed to take part if it would benefit the mission of Catholic Charities, Jockisch said.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria has been in a state of transition as it adapts to operating without state funding. That became necessary when legislation recognizing civil unions in the state of Illinois went into effect last June, requiring child welfare agencies to provide equal services to cohabiting couples, including same-sex couples, as well as those that are married.

Because of the mandate, Catholic Charities was unable to continue serving children through adoption and foster care.

One of the ways the Bishop’s Gala will help Catholic Charities carry out its century-old mission of caring for the poor and vulnerable in central Illinois is through an auction of three items during the dinner. They include a diamond cross necklace donated by Potter & Anderson Jewelers in Peoria; six tickets to a football game at the University of Notre Dame and game-day transportation by private jet; and a Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Bishop Jenky, followed by brunch for eight in his residence.

At the end of the evening, everyone will receive a gift that is tied in some way to Bishop Jenky and an invitation to make a donation to Catholic Charities — including prayer as well as monetary contributions, Jockisch said.

She expressed her appreciation for the gifts they have been receiving and singled out OSF Saint Francis Medical Center as the major sponsor for the Bishop’s Gala.

“We all have the same mission — OSF Saint Francis and Catholic Charities — so it was a really good fit,” she said. “They would like to honor the bishop and we’re thrilled. We are so thankful.”

She also expressed her gratitude to Bishop Jenky, “a humble man who doesn’t like this kind of attention. He’s willing to put himself out there for us and we are very, very thankful.”

The cost to attend the gala is $150 per person and nearly 100 guests have responded to the invitation so far. Seats remain available and Jockisch said the goal is to fill the room.

“We would really like to see our community rallying behind the bishop by coming to the event, by making a donation, showing their support of him as a leader by making a contribution,” she said.

For more information or to reserve a place, contact Jockisch by phone at (309) 636-8034 or by email at cjockisch@ccdop.org.