Come and experience the newly expanded celebration of Mardi Gras, February 8-10, 2013.

Festivities begin Friday, February 8 for grades 6-8 as Friday Night Live begins at 7:00 p.m. in The Refuge.  The topic is feasting and fasting and the event is free!

 

Our annual Mardi Gras Gala is Saturday, February 9. Join friends and family for brass band entertainment, delicious catered dinner, incredible silent auction, exciting live auction, drinks, games, raffle and more! Mardi Gras is a fun filled evening that you do not want to miss!  Fr. John Floeder returns to St. Stephen as the guest emcee for the celebration.

 

The fun continues Sunday, February 10 as we celebrate with a family carnival from 9:00-11:00 a.m. There will be games, fun food, Mardi Gras decor, adult door prizes and Mardi Gras items available for purchase.

 

Tickets for Saturday night and Sunday morning event will be on sale after Masses in January and in the parish office. Advance tickets only for Saturday’s gala - $50. Advance tickets available for Sunday’s event - $5.

This year we have a nationally recognized auctioneer, Karen Sorbo.  As one of the leading auctioneers in the country, Karen Sorbo has impacted organizations across the United States and Mexico. To see her work is to catch the spirit and she will bring new energy and excitement to Mardi Gras 2013. 

 

Karen has conducted over 2200 auctions over the past 20 years. She has been featured in both local and national publications and television for her auction specialty including the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly - Women by the Decade, and Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.  

 

She has raised over 450 million dollars for deserving organizations often surpassing their goal, including:

• Edina Family Center Raised 160% of Goal
• Holy Family Catholic High School Raised 172% of Goal
• Gillette Children’s Hospital Raised 184% of Goal
• Nativity Catholic School/Church Raised 125% of Goal
• St. Vincent DePaul Raised 160% of Goal

Karen's passion and energy in raising funds for non-profit organizations is something you don't want to miss.  You're sure to enjoy the excitement of our live auction!

 

Tickets for the February 9 adult event will be $50.00 per person which will include a four course meal, live music and dancing.  Exotic Hurricanes, Ice Martini Luge, fabulous live and silent auction items, games and great prizes will also be available for purchase! Reservations may be made in the Gathering Place after all weekend Masses beginning in January and in the parish office during the week.

 

Would you love to spend a couple hours helping to change St. Stephen’s Faith Community Center into the Streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2013?  We need many helpers.  This year you can sign up online to volunteer for a shift by clicking here.  Tasks will vary from hanging lights, to decorating, to setting tables for the fancy dinner, to getting tables ready for the silent auction items.  Saturday will be busy with last minute details and final display of auction items.  No previous experience necessary, and although the shifts may be listed as four hours each, sign up even if you only have a couple hours to work. 

 

Silent Auction

 

Our Silent Auction will once again be the cornerstone of the evening with a variety of wonderful items to tempt you including such things as beautiful framed prints for your home; theatre tickets at local repertoires; golf and bowling packages for family fun, and theme baskets for every interest. This year we will once again feature the wonderful gift baskets created by each class at St. Stephen’s School. Thanks to our generous donors there is something special for everyone.

 

 

Live Auction

Our exciting LIVE auction opens after dinner where each patron has an opportunity to bid for that fabulous prize of their dreams. The Live Auction is one of the many highlights of the evening. Each year we have many special items, which in the past have included a MN Twins party, beautiful trees (yes, there are trees in the Live Auction), diamond cross pendant, children's soccer bedroom and an entertainment/home theater package.

 

Some of the live auction highlights for 2013 include:

• A tour of some of Fr. Mike’s favorite stained glass in Minnesota lead by Fr. Mike himself June 12! There will only be 13 spots on the bus.  Five churches are on the tour, lunch is provided.
  
• Two groups of five to the shooting range with Fr. Nathan to shoot a range of weapons and enjoy a BBQ afterwards April 7 or April 28.
• A private concert for eight by Knotted Clover in the rectory and dinner with Fr. Evan followed by a concert at the Basilica Thursday, April 11.
• A women’s night out for eight at Buona Sera.
• A progressive dinner for eight starting with appetizers and cocktails, a fantastic main course with wine, and dessert and after dinner drinks as you hop from house-to-house.
• A catered Murder Mystery Dinner for eight at a MegaHome Model on March 23.

You won’t want to miss an opportunity to bid on one of these and several other auction items.  Check back regularly as new items are added to the live auction!

 

Best Of The Live Auction Raffle

Your Chance to Start Even Earlier!

We would again like to give you the chance to take part in the Mardi Gras Live Auction whether you are able to attend or not! 

 

Best of the Live Auction Raffle tickets will be available beginning in January in the Gathering Place after weekend Masses, in the Parish Office during the week and also the night of Mardi Gras, February 9, 2013. Each $20 ticket allows you the chance to pick one of the 2013 select Live Auction Items. One lucky winner’s name will be drawn before the start of the Live Auction. The item they have chosen on that ticket will be pulled from the Live Auction and that lucky person will have won that Live Auction Item!

 

This opportunity will again allow any member of our extended community to take part in this great event, as you DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT to win!

 

The instructions are simple:

Fill out the raffle ticket. Make sure to choose the letter that corresponds with the Live Auction Item that you want to win if your ticket is pulled.
Bring the ticket and a check or cash to St. Stephen's Church.

 

 

This year's items include:

A. Vizio 39” Class 1080p LED TV, Nintendo Wii U 32 GB Deluxe Set and Super Mario Bros. U Game;

B. 10 yards of mulch delivered within 20 miles of Andover;

C. Jorge Revilla necklace with a Sterling Silver Leaf with ruby and peridot stones and matching Peridot earrings in 14K White Gold;

D. Green Mountain Daniel Boone Pellet Grill, 25 x16 (400 sq. in.) with cover, stainless steel grate and shelf, and two 28 lb. bags of pellets;

E. Two tickets to Fr. Mike’s Stained Glass Tour on Wednesday,
June 12. Visit five churches, lunch provided; or

F. Poly-Lumber 4' Glider

 

 

Dinner Menu

 

Hors D'Oeuvres

Imported and Local Cheese, Olives and Fruit

 

Salad

Chopped Romaine tossed with Mushrooms, Roasted Butternut Squash, Crispy Onions, and Parsley finished with Sherry-Pear Vinaigrette

 

Soup

Creamy Tomato and Shrimp Bisque

 

Main Course

Chicken Confit and Sausage Cassoulet set on Farmhouse Aged Cheddar-Andouille Biscuits

 

Dessert

Bananas Foster

Brulée Bananas and White Cake, Served with Spiced Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream

 

Coffee Station

Regular and Decaf French Roast Coffee with Sugar in the Raw and Half and Half

 

Each table is set with toasted bread and butter baskets.

 

 

Games

Once again this year we will have fun games taking place throughout the evening. Part of this fun will be Heads or Tails. Purchase your $10.00 necklace that evening to take part in the game as a coin is tossed to determine if you guessed right in order to remain standing. The last person standing will ultimately win the $500 cash prize. Don’t miss this chance to bet the odds and have some fun! 

 

 

Schedule

Cocktails and Silent Auction.................5:15 p.m.

Seating begins...................................6:45 p.m.

Prayer and Dinner..............................7:00 p.m.

Close of Silent Auction Bidding ............8:45 p.m.

Drawing for "Best of the Live" Raffle.....8:45 p.m.

Live Auction .....................................9:00 p.m.

Music...............................Throughout the Night

 

 

Mardi Gras has grown to become the single largest fundraising event for St. Stephen’s parish and school.  Proceeds go back into the general fund impacting virtually every ministry within the parish.  In past years, proceeds have also been utilized for special needs items including automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the church and school; new bleachers in the school gym; a new sound system for the school; a kiln for school art classes, new furniture for the parish office; as well as new furniture and toys for the new pre-school; notebook computers for the school, audio-visual equipment for use in the Faith Community Center, white boards for the school classrooms and an extreme makeover for The Refuge (youth room).

 

These significant endeavors cannot happen without YOU!

So, grab your Aunt Sally, invite your neighbors, or get all the girls in your book club and reserve a table together, as Mardi Gras is a fun filled evening that you do not want to miss!