St. Pius V Parish honors Congressman Gutierrez and other community leaders
Eric Schwister
Published: October 30, 2009
St. Pius V Parish hosted their annual banquet, Celebrating the Harvest, on October 10 and honored Congressman Luis Gutierrez for community service, Jose Luis and Martha Gonzalez of J.L. Gonzalez Produce for Institutional Development and Armando and Elba Lopez with their Family of Faith award. Lilia Chacon, from Fox News Chicago, served as guest emcee.
Proceeds from the banquet support the parish's social outreach programs including domestic violence services, the community youth center of Casa Juan Diego, the food pantry and soup kitchen and the healthy family program."St. Pius is the bedrock of the immigrant community in Chicago," Congressman Gutierrez told the gathering of over 300 people as he received his award. Gutierrez has partnered with the parish on several immigration reform events, including a town hall meeting in the church in November of 2008.
The Gonzalez family, members of the parish for many years, took to the podium as a group to share stories of how their lives have been intertwined with St. Pius for many years. Armando and Elba Lopez, owners of Raymond's Hamburgers, also thanked the parish for direction and support after suffering a family tragedy four years ago.
Musicians and dancers, including the Back-of-the-Yards Ballet Folklorico, entertained guests who dined on food donated by some of Pilsen's finest restaurants, such as El Milagro, Kristoffer's Cafe and Bakery, Fogata Village, Mundial Cocina Mestiza and Al Teatro.
St. Pius V has been serving the immigrant community of Pilsen and beyond for over 130 years with a thriving parish and a commitment to social involvement and leadership.
Eric Schwister is the Development Director at St. Pius V.
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