The hors d’oeuvres were plentiful, the prosecco delicious, and the tables glittering. People trickled in, quickly busying themselves with greeting friends and browsing the silent auction food baskets and other items. lined up inside rooms off of the grand ballroom of the Marymount International School in Rome on Dec. 1.

It may seem like many other Christmas celebrations, but the St. Nicholas Charity Serata held by the Paulist-served Church of Santa Susanna in Rome on Dec. 1 was a party for a purpose. More than 250 parishioners and friends of Santa Susanna attended the gala, held in the grand ballroom of Marymount International School in Rome Dec. 1. Parishioners and friends of Santa Susanna bid on food baskets (some themed Australian, Mexican, Mardi Gras, American cereal and more), silent auction items from artwork to jewelry to vacations and live auction items. There was even a raffle for a new iPod and 32-inch television. The approximately $32,000 in proceeds went to support the work of nine charities in Rome.

Father Paul Robichaud, CSP, former rector of Santa Susanna (left), striks a pose with EWTN’s Joan Lewis at the St. Nicholas Charity Serata Dec. 1.

“It is a great community experience of creating a welcoming and magical atmosphere that results in the ability to give of ourselves,” said Father Gregory Apparcel, CSP, Santa Susanna’s rector. “Each person does their individual part … [and has] a wonderful time in the process. There was a lot of laughter this year, and people stayed much later than usual.”

Although the Christmas fundraising custom began some 60 years ago with the Ladies Guild Christmas bazaar, today’s serata tradition began in 1997. Father Paul Robichaud, CSP, and Father Greg Apparcel, CSP (then serving as rector and vice-rector, respectively), were trying to figure out how the parishioners could participate in outreach ministries and be of service to others, explained Father Robichaud, who was in Rome for this year’s event.

“Many people felt uncomfortable serving in soup kitchens or shelters because of the language barrier,” he said. “So Father Greg and I thought it would be a good idea to hold an fundraising evening dedicated to St. Nicholas where we would give all the money raised to worthy causes.”

Father John Duffy, CSP , vice-rector of Santa Susanna (right), chats with a guest at the St. Nicholas Charity Serata in Rome Dec. 1

For the Santa Susanna community, the serata is an annual chance for parishioners to all come together, according to Joan Lewis, parish council president, EWTN correspondent and St. Nicholas serata enthusiast.

“People attend different Masses on weekends, so don’t always see one another,” she explained. “It is great to see people you know well and have a chance to become better acquainted with people you don’t see as often.”

And a definite way for the Santa Susanna community to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

The charities benefitting from the serata are:

Arche: Works with children who are HIV-positive or have AIDS and their families.

Caritas Rome: Helps the homeless with and needy with shelter, food, medical care and other needs for Rome’s poor, many of whom are refugees.

Casa di San Giuseppe and Santa Teresa: Provides education, shelter and clothes for troubled children.

Casa Famiglia Villa del Pino in Monte Porzio Catone: Houses and cares for men who have AIDS with medical treatments and work training. Also provides AIDS education in the community.

Centro Astalli Refugee Center: Operates dormitories for men, women and children, serves an evening meal, health clinic, Italian language school and social counseling.

Di Liegro Foundation: Works to change the structures of society that limit the protection of human beings and attempts to remove situations of exclusion due to political or economic bias.

Joel Nafuma Refugee Center: Provides refugees with job assistance, information and a place to rest and talk.

Missionaries of Charity: Provides shelter and meals for the homeless, shelter and daycare for single mothers, and homes for the elderly, ill and physically- and mentally-handicapped children.

St. Nicholas Fund: Helps individuals or groups who come to the doors of Santa Susanna with legitimate needs. Operates under the direction of the Paulist Fathers and parish social justice committee.