Auction sparks generosity

By Brenda Erdahl

St. Timothy School’s annual spring auction was successful in more ways than one. The Catholic school’s largest fundraiser of the year traditionally inspires fun as much as it does generosity, but this year was extra special.

For starters, with close to 300 people crowded into the V by HH Saturday evening, May 11, it was standing room only once the live auction, led by Frank Sullivan and his expert auctioneers got underway.

Secondly, Father John Meyer took the opportunity to introduce the newly hired principal, Mr. Jim Grogan. The school has been waiting all year for the right candidate to come along and in the meantime relying on interim help from Father Meyer, Acting Principal Betty Thomes and Assistant Principal Kristine Kolles.

Grogan, who has 36 years of experience in education, 33 of those as principal, spent some time introducing himself before the fun got underway. He is currently the principal at Holy Cross Catholic School in Webster and prior to that, was principal at Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park. He’ll begin at St. Tim’s in July.

Participants were also treated to a special song and message from Monsignor Callaghan sent all the way from Rome for the occasion. Monsignor was the inspiration for this year’s fundraiser theme, which was “O’Callaghan’s Irish Pub Party.” He sang an Irish Lullaby, appropriate to the occasion, and offered some encouraging words before signing off.

The event featured a traditional Irish dinner including fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, plus a silent auction and raffle drawings, but the main event was the live auction where generosity always abounds. This year was no different.

A box of cinnamon rolls made by Mary Loomis went for $160; four jars of Judy Neumann’s famed pickles sold for $550 each; someone paid $550 to sit in the front row at the school’s upcoming spring concert and a cornhole board decorated with the handprints of St. Timothy preschoolers sold for a whopping $950. All the money raised goes toward supporting general costs associated with operating St. Timothy School and keeping tuition low.

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