Celebrating Mardi Gras as a Catholic Community
Last year on Mardi Gras, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe held a chili cookoff for staff, volunteers, and their families. The event was a great success, with a large turnout, many creative entries for the chili competition, and joyful bonding time for all. The Mardi Gras cookoff is therefore now an annual event in the Shrine’s calendar. The second, held this past Feb. 13, again produced a high turnout and festive atmosphere, indicating that these cookoffs will remain a treasured part of the community life.
Food and Festivities
Whether experiencing it for the first or the second time, attendees greatly enjoyed the cookoff and the opportunity it provided to come together. “This is great,” declares Deacon Chris Kabat, taking part as a new staff member. “To have everybody gathered together, staff and volunteers and some families—beautiful. And the chili—delicious.” Greg Marco, Director of Shrine Operations, confirms and expands on a similar line of thought: “This is one of the better events of the year in terms of encouraging camaraderie and fellowship among the staff and the volunteers. … This year we’ve got another full dining room [Culina Marina Café]. It’s just awesome to see everybody enjoying themselves, and some excellent food.”
In addition, having some experience from last year made a difference in planning and organizing the event. “This year has a different feel to it,” says Paul Krause, Assistant Gift Shop Manager. “I think we’ve settled in, because last year was something new, we were trying to get it figured out … This year I think we get it.”
Who Won the Mardi Gras Cookoff?
The cookoff itself was again a scene of goodnatured competition and lively creativity, with eleven entries. For the second year, Deacon Sam Schmirler entered the winning chili and was awarded a chef’s hat and apron. Dcn. Schmirler’s entry this year was a chicken-based variety titled “Caesar’s Champion Chicken Chili.” The Deacon quipped, “As Julius Caesar said, ‘Veni, vidi, vici,’ I said, ‘Veni, coxi, vici,’ which is ‘I came, I cooked, and I conquered!’ ” The prize for the most creatively named chili, a wooden ladle, went to “Terror of Deacons” by Sophia Sawaya, who assists in the Shrine’s gift shop and choir.
WINNERS! Deacon Sam's "Caesar’s Champion Chicken Chili" & Sophia "Terror of Deacons"
Fostering Community
The chili cookoffs have proven a success, not only in the chilis entered or the number of people in attendance, but above all in the fostering of community bonds. As the Shrine staff have repeatedly testified, to work for Our Lady’s Shrine means more than a job; those taking part in this work aim to cultivate an atmosphere of joyful charity, beginning among themselves. By enabling them to relax and enjoy a good time together, the Mardi Gras cookoff contributes to building up the Shrine team as a family under their Mother’s mantle.
