By KATHLEEN BISHOP Special to the Daily Press
St. Monica Catholic Church’s Octoberfair is back, and the 41st year of the church’s biggest fundraiser includes a carnival, contests, live music and a raffle with a 2004 PT Cruiser and a Palm Springs vacation up for grabs.
The parish’s event begins Friday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. with Father Willie Raymond judging local recipes in the Chili Cook-off and naming the best chili in Santa Monica.
Saturday morning, Olympians Gary Visconti and Randy Gardner will kick off a 5k walk/run. Festivities continue Sunday with the fair running from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the raffle drawing taking place that evening.
Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson has been pastor of St. Monica’s for 17 years. He looks forward to Octoberfair every year and while it does make money for the church, he sees it as a time for his parish to open itself up to the Santa Monica community.
“We’re one of the larger religious communities, and I think it’s important for religious communities to engage in care and concern and larger issues,” he said. “It’s not just about us, it’s about our city, our neighborhood, and listening to their needs and supporting the people around us.”
Octoberfair is a social event, fundrais-er, and outreach program all in one. Dan Oliva, church member and volunteer chair of the fair, wants to welcome the Santa Monica community to St. Monica’s the way the church did him, even if just for the weekend.
“St. Monica’s is dear to me. I am a single, gay male and the thing that I like is that everyone is welcome there,” he said. “They were so welcoming when I was lost and searching.”
Oliva has lived in Santa Monica for two years, and has been a member of St. Monica’s for about four and a half years. In addition to giving his time back to the church that opened its arms to him, he wants to contribute to the community, even if “just in hospitality.”
St. Monica’s, however, contributes more than chili and music to its community. Proceeds from the fair benefit many of the more than 100 ministries the parish supports and local non-profit organizations.
“There is an orphanage in Mexico, ministry to the sick, ministry for youth, it goes on and on,” said Sharon Jimenez, representative for the fair. “St. Monica’s is just a real pillar for people with needs in the Santa Monica community.”
Octoberfair will take place on Lincoln Boulevard at California Avenue. Information on entering the Chili Cook-off and 5k run is available at www.stmon-ica.net/octoberfair.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 23, 2004. Read the original PDF.