The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
St. Jude holds festival to help support parish
Father Frank Kosem to retire Sept. 15
St. Jude Church at 590 Poplar St. in Elyria, and the adjacent St. Jude School at 594 Poplar St., hosted Sept. 1 a 35th Annual St. Jude Parish Festival featuring a variety of food and entertainment.
“This is our large annual fundraiser,” said Jill Barber, chair of the festival. “This year is a special one because our pastor, Father Frank Kosem, is retiring and he started this festival. He has really led this event that has been a tradition for us, so this year also serves as a fitting goodbye for him.”
Barber said the event always includes plenty of food.
“We have pierogi, bratwurst, fried chicken, mac and cheese, a beer tent and more,” she said. “We also have live music, plenty of kids games, like the fish bowl game, and a raffle for someone’s choice of a new car or $10,000.”
Barber listed other activities.
“We also have train rides for the kids, Putt-Putt and Jungle Bob showing off different animals for kids,” she said. “We have a little corner represented by both the boy and girl scouts. Their area features a rock-climbing wall and a gaga ball pit. They are also going to generously donate the gaga ball pit to the school for gym class.”
Barber said the initial reason for the festival was for the church to payoff it’s mortgage.
“Once we paid off the mortgage, it has become something that raises money for major purchases,” she said. “It’s a misconception that it immediately goes back into the school and church. It first goes to the parish at-large and then is used for any major purchases. The event is for the people of the parish, but the hope is that it supports the parish as well.”
Kosem said he loved being at his last festival as the pastor of St. Jude.
“It’s just a great, family atmosphere,” he said. “My hope, when starting the festival, was to bring everyone in the community together.”
Kosem then spoke about his retirement.
“My last day is Sept. 15, and we will have something (as a sendoff) at noon following mass at 11 a.m.,” he said. “I will really miss the people the most. I’ve done so many baptisms, weddings and funerals that I feel like part of the family. It has been great being part of the St. Jude family.”
Clifford Sewald of North Ridgeville brought his family to the event.
“It’s really been very nice,” he said. “The kids have enjoyed the Putt-Putt and the cake game. They really have a lot of stuff going on here, and it’s very familyfriendly.”