By: Ed Arocho
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, St. Francis Cathedral School families gathered at the St. Francis CYO for this year’s Fall Family Event, themed “A Taste of Italy.” The building buzzed with excitement, community spirit, and the unmistakable charm of an Italian celebration. The event was thoughtfully organized by Christine Tobin and Donna Mammano, whose hard work and creativity helped bring the theme to life.
The venue was beautifully decorated with bright Italian-inspired lemon décor, creating a cheerful and festive atmosphere the moment families walked in. Tables were set up for dining, conversation, and crafts, giving the space a warm family-style feel.
Volunteers worked tirelessly in the days leading up to the event, cooking, decorating, and preparing every detail to ensure the day was special. They brought enthusiasm and teamwork to every part of the setup, creating an inviting and festive environment that truly captured the spirit of Italy.
Children had no shortage of fun. Bouncy houses kept them laughing and jumping throughout the day, while face painting stations and pine cone crafts let them show off their creativity. Each child’s pine cone creation will become part of a special SFCS Family Craft Tree that will be proudly displayed at the school, making their artwork a lasting part of the community.
Of course, no Italian celebration would be complete without food, and the spread did not disappoint. Families enjoyed authentic spaghetti carbonara, homemade wood-fired pizza, and a dual-flavored cannoli bar, along with other Italian-inspired dishes and desserts such as refreshing lemon-flavored cheesecake.
One of the highlights of the day was the musical entertainment provided by talented young performers from the School of Rock in Clark. Their mix of current and classic rock hits filled the CYO with the wonderful sounds of kids sharing their talents and added an extra spark to the festive environment. A special thank-you goes out to Chris Stephenson and Joey Cassata from the School of Rock for helping make the performance such a success.
Most importantly, “A Taste of Italy” brought our SFCS families and friends together for an afternoon of fellowship, fun, and shared memories. Events like these remind us how special our community is and how valuable it is for students, parents, friends, and staff to gather outside the classroom.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to all the volunteers who helped set up, supported the event throughout the day, and stayed afterward to clean up. Their dedication is what makes events like this possible and strengthens the sense of family within our school community.
We look forward to many more joyful moments together at future SFCS events!
Grazie di cuore a tutti coloro che hanno partecipato!
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended!