John Gadomski of Wyoming tries his hand at the ‘Big 6’ money wheel.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
Guests at Saturday’s Mardi Gras celebration at the St. Robert Bellarmine parish line up for food.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
Welcome signs for Saturday’s Mardi Gras celebration at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church in Wilkes-Barre.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
Rich Schlude, left, and Ed Cavanaugh spin the ‘Big 6’ money wheel.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — It wasn’t Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, but the Mardi Gras celebration thrown by St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church had parishioners and guests partying like they were in the Big Easy.
Saturday night was a joyous celebration of the period before the Lenten season begins, and the Wilkes-Barre parish brought out food, games, prizes and, most importantly, good vibes.
“We’ve had members of the parish say that they’ve gone to events like this at other churches, so we decided to throw our own,” said Cathy Swoboda, one of the main organizers behind the Mardi Gras celebration, along with her husband Rick.
This is the third year running for Mardi Gras at St. Robert Bellarmine, and the party has gotten bigger each year.
Beads and masks were provided for everybody, and with the smell of the food and the music weaving through the air, it would be easy for anyone to think that they were taking a stroll down Bourbon Street.
The Swobodas purchased much of the food and prizes for the basket raffle out of their own pocket, saying that “we’re not here to make money, this isn’t a fundraiser. It’s just a get-together among friends.”
Father Richard Cirba, a pastor at the church for four years and someone who’s been involved with the annual Mardi Gras celebration since the beginning, opened the festivities with some words of prayer, before imploring everyone to “let their hair down” and have fun.
“This is a good way for everyone to let loose and have a good time before Lent,” Cirba said.
Cirba’s not the only one who’s been having a good time at Mardi Gras since its inception. Many of the parishioners who turned out to have fun have been in attendance for all three years of St. Robert Bellarmine’s version of the popular tradition.
Frank Simko of Swoyersville, who stood out from the crowd in a bright orange court jester’s hat, was one such individual.
“My wife and I have been here since the beginning,” Simko said. “I love the food, and I love the drinking.”
Adult beverages were, certainly, a popular drink of choice on Saturday, with some being provided and others being brought to the church by party-goers. Of course, everyone was reminded by Cirba to be responsible.
“You could have fun, but not too much fun,” Cirba quipped.
A very popular spot was the “Big 6” money wheel, where Rich Schlude and Ed Cavanaugh were taking bets and trying to send somebody home a big winner.
John Gadomski may not have gotten lucky on the big wheel, but he didn’t seem to mind. A Wyoming native, Gadomski had a very special reason for coming to Mardi Gras at this particular church.
“My wife and I got married here in this church 42 years ago,” Gadomski said.
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