MUKILTEO — The yard of St. John Mission is expected to fill up fast today with people.
The local Catholic church is holding its annual hoedown this afternoon. There will be live music, yummy food, a silent auction and games for kids, said parishioner Bill Giese of Everett.
The money raised this weekend will go to charity. In the past, Giese said, the church donated to the Everett Gospel Mission and St. Vincent de Paul.
Many businesses in the area give generously for the event.
Last year, parishioners used the money to buy a water tank for people living in a village in Kenya, the home country of one of the mission’s priests.
When the Kenyan priest arrived at the church, people welcomed the chance to learn about his culture, Giese said. They have since built a connection with people in the African country.
“You realize that our Catholic faith is pretty much around the world,” he said.
People at St. John know this firsthand. The church also has welcomed priests from Vietnam and Taiwan.
Everyone is welcome at the hoedown. Giese always looks forward to meeting people from different walks of life and getting to know his fellow church members. Some people who are usually quiet really open up during the picnic, he said.
Giese has been going to St. John for decades. There were times when he was gone, but he always came back.
A lot has changed in Mukilteo since Giese’s family arrived there in 1948. But the community has remained a close one, he said.
So bring your lawn chair and blanket today and enjoy good food and good company. Items in the raffle include a handmade quilt, a basket full of goodies and a full-sized grill.
“The camaraderie and the friendliness is a big part of it. It kind of brings people together,” Giese said.
Katya Yemifova: 425-339-3452 or kyemifova@heraldnet.com.
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