Published: August 08, 2008 11:52 am         

St. Anthony picnic set at high school this year

EFFINGHAM — St. Anthony of Padua parish’s annual picnic will take place this weekend in the midst of the parish’s sesquicentennial celebration.

“The success of this picnic is the result of our parish family coming together and working together toward this common goal, making parishioners, visitors and friends feel at home with us,” stated Monsignor Leo Enlow in a church bulletin.

The festivities will begin with the Bulldog Challenge 5K Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony High School. Proceeds will benefit the soccer, track and cross country teams.

The picnic will take place from 5 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and noon to midnight on Sunday. Due to construction at the grade school, the picnic will take place at St. Anthony High School.

A chicken or roasted pork dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Anthony Parish Center. Dinner prices are $8 for adults and $4 for kids. Seniors 60 and older will receive a discount. A shuttle bus will run between the high school and the parish center from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The celebration will culminate with the raffle drawing at 11 p.m. Sunday. The grand prize winner will have a choice between one of three 2009 vehicles or $17,500 in cash. Other prizes include $2,000 in cash, a 2008 scooter, a riding lawn mower, $1,000 cash, a sunset swing and flat screen television.

Chairperson Jeff Clausius said there are two new attractions to look for at the picnic: a train ride for children called the Bullpup Express and a 10-minute preview of the documentary film being made of St. Anthony’s history for the sesquicentennial celebration.

Parishioners are reminded to bring tomatoes, pies and cakes for the dinner to the parish center from 10 a.m. to noon or 5 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday or after 8 a.m. Sunday. Cleanup after the picnic will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the parish center.

If anyone is interested in chairing the 2009 picnic, St. Anthony is looking for two couples or families. Contact Jeff and Kathy Clausius or Jeff and Jodi Kinkelaar at 217-347-0129 for more information.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-343-1255 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.