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                             Fiesta Planning Off To Great Start

                                       Article for parish web site by Tim Coder
 
 
 Plans for this year's San Ysidro Parish Fiesta, the celebration of family fun, food, music and fellowship on the feast of our parish patron saint the weekend of May 14-15, are moving along quickly and well under the second year of Ken Cantwell's chairmanship. Some big changes highlight the parish's gala weekend, the most significant being that this year's event will be a fund-raiser to help finance San Ysidro's church expansion and renovation. The parish will announce specifics on that project soon.

In the past, former pastor Fr. James Vance, revived the Fiesta and considered the celebration as a vehicle mainly for fellowship. Pastoral Council chairman Valentin Varela headed up the new Fiesta for its first three years and it steadily grew over that time. Current pastor, Fr. Michael DePalma, changed the focus to fund-raising, given all the work parishioners put into the event and the capital expenses the parish is facing. "If that's what the pastor wants, I'm all for it," Ken said. This year's goal, he said, is to net between $8,000 and $10,000. Last year's Fiesta brought in about $3,700 in profits.

Major changes in store are:
  

   -- An evening of bingo to replace the parish appreciation dinner and dance on Saturday. Discussions will be held on when and if to replace the dinner, an appreciation for all the work parishioners do to make San Ysidro a vibrant Catholic community.
   -- In addition to Saturday night, plans are to hold bingo nights Friday evening, also in Hendren Hall, and during Sunday's main Fiesta in a tent on the parish grounds. Bingo times are Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 6-9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food and snacks will be available for purchase during the sessions.  "Bingo was highly profitable last year, and we hope it will be again this year," Ken said.  Luke Barbian, vice-chairman of the Pastoral Council, heads up planning for bingo, which will offer a 50-50 split in winnings.

The Fiesta Sunday will begin after the 11 a.m. Mass at the Old Church and procession to the parish grounds by Mass participants, Matachines dancers, the Fiesta court royalty, first communicants and the Spanish Choir.
  

   The musical schedule:
  

       -- 12:30-1 p.m. Matachines;
   -- 1-2 p.m. Baile Baile, ballet folclorico;
   -- 2-3 p.m. Mariachi band;
   -- 3-4 p.m. Bo Brown Band, country western;
   -- 4-5 p.m. Quemozo, Salsa South American style.

Volunteers will be at the doors of the church after Masses on the first two weekends of April to hand out raffle ticket books to be sold by parishioners. Cash prizes for winning tickets will be $1,000 first place, $500 for second and $250 for third. In the past, ticket books were mailed to each parish family. This year's procedure is an economy move.

There will be some changes in food preparation to help eliminate slow-moving lines and a new children's plate to make the Fiesta more affordable to families.  Beyond the changes, much will be the same -- including games for kids and the highly profitable silent auction and arts-and-crafts fair.

Volunteer coordinators Margaret Palumbo and Denny McSweeney are always looking for more parishioners to help at Sunday's main event to donate how ever many hours they can spare. To sign-up, call Margaret at 867-4941 or 844-1641, or Denny 898-9775.