Tickets are now available for the University Catholic Gala, which will be held Saturday, April 2, in the Catholic Pastoral Center’s Ascension Auditorium.
“The gala is an opportunity for us to celebrate the work that we do,” said Father Gervan Menezes, University Catholic chaplain. “We see miracles happening every day, people’s lives being transformed, and the gala is an opportunity for us to be able to celebrate that.”
University Catholic is the Diocese of Nashville’s campus ministry.
“As college students, it’s a weird time of their lives. They have so many temptations, and the college culture is a crazy one,” Father Menezes said. Through University Catholic, “it’s an opportunity for us to bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus.
“When you invest in the diocese, when you invest in the (Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Ministries), when you invest in University Catholic … you’re giving back to God,” he said. “You’re not giving to University Catholic, you’re giving through University Catholic.”
The black-tie event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a sit-down dinner catered by the Clean Plate Club, and dancing. Attendees will also get a chance to hear from former and current students who will provide witness to how University Catholic impacted them, Father Menezes said.
“It’s almost like a homecoming, people who haven’t seen each other for so long, and people who know and believe in what we do as a ministry,” Father Menezes said.
Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table with a maximum of 10 people. To register, visit universitycatholic.org/gala. Registration is due by March 20.
But Father Menezes, said it’s not just about the money.
“I want you to be partnered with our mission. I want you to pray for what we do every day because the devil does not like the kind of stuff that we do,” Father Menezes said. “It’s an opportunity for you to make a huge difference in the life of so many college students that, without University Catholic, they would never have that experience of Jesus.”
