Hundreds of people served meals, receive gifts at St. Thérèse of Lisieux
By Jim Wogan
Parishioner Pat Killen can offer testimony to the ongoing impact of the 3 Kings Feast at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish. So can parishioners Shawn Duggan and Maddie Dill. All three, in their own unique ways, have been instrumental in making sure the annual holiday ministry has thrived for more than three decades.
“This event started 34 years ago… with 16 families that were fed,” said Mr. Duggan, who has served as feast chairperson for six years and can attest to its growth. “We now feed between 700 and 1,100 people. It is about touching peoples’ lives for the positive and spreading God’s Word through food, through gift, and through fellowship.”

Father Mike Nolan checks on table servers Emily Rakoczy, Jack Condo, and Debbie Condo at the 3 Kings Feast attended by nearly 800 people on Dec. 2 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church. (Photo Jim Wogan)
On Dec. 2, hundreds of people from Cleveland and the surrounding area began lining up for the 3 Kings Feast outside the parish family life center. A covered sidewalk kept them dry from a chilly rain that fell most of the day. Inside, parish volunteers had prepared more than 1,200 pounds of food, stacked several hundred donated gifts, and nearly 200 blankets to be given away to those who came for a hot meal and some holiday spirit on that day.
“Everybody knows there is more of a need now than there used to be and that usually shows itself in the number of people we serve,” said Mrs. Killen, who has been a parishioner at St. Thérèse for 58 years. “We never know how many [people] are going to come. We never really know.”
The doors of the family life center opened at 11 a.m. Ninety minutes later, a hand-held counter that kept count of those coming through the door had clicked to 760. The long line of people waiting outside had shrunk by 12:30 p.m., but people were still arriving.
“They are of different faiths, different nationalities. They just come for a good hot meal, and they know they will be treated royally,” Mrs. Killen said.
Maddie Dill has been working on the feast for almost her entire life, since she was 3 or 4 years old. Now a young adult, Ms. Dill began volunteering with her mom by handing out fruit. She calls the feast the “heart and soul” of the parish.
“I think this event was my first glimpse into what it [means] to give back, what charity is, how it can change people’s lives, and how it can change you personally. I think it is such a heartwarming way to express humility, love, and generosity.”
Father Mike Nolan has served as pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux twice and has seen the feast grow over the years. He credits 150-200 volunteers and those who donate food, gifts, and their personal time for making the ministry a success.

Knights of Columbus Queen of Heaven Council 4572 of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland staff the kitchen for the 3 Kings Feast. About 1,200 pounds of food were prepared and served over three hours. (Photo Jim Wogan)
“Everyone has a need to gather, even when times are good. This brings people around a table, whether it’s their family, or neighbors, or church members, to know that you are welcome here,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s some of the glue that really holds this place together because it’s not one organization, it’s all the organizations of the church coming together in a very disorganized but very loving way.”
After six years as the lead organizer of the feast, Mr. Duggan said a job transfer to another area is forcing him to step down. Michael Murphy, a retired Chicago Police Department captain who recently relocated to Cleveland, is taking over as “feast coordinator.” As a newcomer, he wanted to become active in parish life.
“When Father Nolan came to me and said, ‘I want you to shadow Shawn and be involved with this,’ at first, I was like, I don’t know if I want to do that. Then God reminded me that night ‘what have you been praying for?’ So, I immediately said yes. As far as it being a challenge or anything like that, these people have laid this out, they have got this going. If I mess this up, it’s on me because it’s [organized] like clockwork.”
On Dec. 2, parish volunteers made sure the three- to four-hour event ran smoothly. At least 25 volunteers from the Knights of Columbus manned the kitchen and dished out plates of food—chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese and corn rolls for the children; pork, turkey, or ham with mashed potatoes and green beans with corn rolls for the adults. Everyone received dessert.
Volunteers also staffed the gymnasium-turned-dining room as table servers to make sure each person or family received a greeting and was attended to.
Dinner began with grace. Throughout, families were entertained by music and an appearance by Santa Claus, and then guided to an area where wrapped, age-appropriate gifts were handed out to children. Families also received a blanket, and in some cases a sleeping bag was provided to those who may have been homeless.
Among the many people helping the parish was first-time volunteer Hailey Simco, a freshman student and softball player at Lee University. Ms. Simco is Catholic and from Denver.
“I’d say I am surprised. I didn’t realize Cleveland was in as much need. I am not super-surprised that this many people want to come here and be part of this, but I am surprised the amount of people that are in need in Cleveland,” Ms. Simco said.

Santa Claus spends time walking the dining area and checking on children and their parents while, presumably, his sleigh was being prepared for his big trip on Dec. 24. (Photo Jim Wogan)
Word of the annual event has spread throughout the Cleveland community over the decades, and it has become a “real integrator,” according to Father Nolan.
“We work with the social services agencies in town, and since it’s an every-year affair, we have repeat guests who come because they learned about it, they plan on it. The last couple of years we have been getting more and more Ukrainian refugees, and we had a volunteer come today from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to translate for us and to help welcome our guests,” Father Nolan added.
Event organizers said the parish raises money all year to support the feast. “It’s a significant ask,” Mr. Duggan said. Several parishioners and the local McDonald’s business provide financial help.
“It’s a lot of effort to go into one day, but it’s fulfilling,” Mr. Duggan added. “As Bradley County has grown… the parish has met the need by expanding this event every year. It has kind of taken care of itself in that we have more volunteers show up than we ever need, we have more food than we ever need, and somehow God provides for all of us and we’re able to handle this event very well.”
Father Nolan said he’s grateful the feast runs mostly on the efforts of parish volunteers. He said he is told when to show up, but it’s evident the pastor has an emotional connection to the day.
“When we finish this day, and we’re mopping the floors, and we’re putting the tables and chairs back, people are exhausted—and they’re thanking me, but it’s nothing I did. I just happen to be here at this time and at this parish, and I am so grateful for how they reflect God’s love,” the pastor shared.