Fall Fest now has international flair

As a steady stream of parishioners filed out of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church hall at 5335 Snyder Ave., festive Latino music began filling the air.

The Annual Fall Family Fun Fest at Corpus Christi still featured ice cream for the warm, sunny afternoon event, but the new excitement was the international flavors of Mexico and Nicaragua.

The food was prepared by Nicaraguan and Mexican families who are members of the church. Father Jim Setelik reminded many who walked by that he made the beans.

"They're American beans, made with bacon, garlic, onions and some other spices."

The 12th annual festival was well attended, but Setelik said he would like to see it better attended by the community.

"This is one of the most family-oriented events," Setelik said. "There's no drinking " we don't allow alcohol at our events, and there's things for the kids and adults alike.

"It's too bad we don't get more of the community here."

Hispanics were eating Nicaraguan and American foods, the Americans were eating Nicaraguan " everyone was tasting something different.

In back of the church hall, the cake walk was set up across from the snow cones, and kids games were lined up offering contestants guaranteed prizes.

One young boy found the challenge of the milk bottle throw just his style, and was successful in his three throwing attempts.

"I won!" he yelled. "I dominated that game," he added as he rushed off with his prizes.

The annual event is held to bring money in to the church's building fund. Corpus Christi broke ground mid-June on its new 15,000 square-foot church on Sunridge Drive. The church sits on 71⁄2 acres and the hall will seat 500 parishioners, with enough property for future building possibilities.

"This is the first time we've (church) been in debt since I've been here," Setelik said. He came to Corpus Christi in 1998.

Corpus Christi became part of the St. Teresa of Avila parish in 1968. The church on Snyder Avenue is on 1 acre of the Stewart Indian School parcel, which served as a mission and a school. It was considered part of the St. Gall parish in Gardnerville.

Corpus Christi is attended by more than 500 families, both Hispanic and English.

- Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.