The Spirit Celebration Dinner 2013

More than 600 of Spirit Catholic Radio's friends and listeners gathered among the beauty of the enormous airplanes at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. on Friday, Oct. 25 for the 8th annual Spirit Celebration Dinner.

The dinner, hosted each fall, celebrates the mission of Spirit Catholic Radio as well as the many listeners, donors, volunteers, on-air guests and friends of the radio apostolate. 

Beginning at 6 p.m. with a social hour, guests enjoyed complimentary drinks and 

hors d'oeuvres while they mingled with fellow listeners and Spirit Catholic Radio staff. 

A buffet-style dinner featuring foods from five of the area's best restaurants was served after a blessing from Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz of the Diocese of Lincoln. Providing the meal were Wheatfield's, Patricia Catering, Parker's Smokehouse, Hiro 88 and Mangia Italiana. 

The evening's program featured an update from Executive Director Jim Carroll, who talked about the station's mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and to invite, inform and inspire listeners. 

Emcees Bruce McGregor and Jen Brown of the Spirit Mornings show, along with Matt Willkom, didn't miss an opportunity for song as the entire crowd joined together for a quick tune written by Matt, who sang and played guitar.

Each year during the dinner, Spirit Catholic Radio honors special individuals whose contributions help to ensure the radio network's mission is carried out over the airwaves. Receiving this year's Local Spirit Award were all four bishops from the listening area: Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha; Bishop James D. Conley of the Lincoln Diocese; Bishop William J. Dendinger of the Grand Island Diocese; and Bishop Richard E. Pates of the Des Moines Diocese. 

Bishop Dendinger and Archbishop Lucas receive their awards.
Bishops Pates and Conley were unable to attend.

Featured speaker for the evening was radio show host Dr. Ray Guarendi of The Doctor Is In, which airs on Spirit Catholic Radio Monday through Friday at 12 p.m. CST. Dr. Ray was also awarded with the National Spirit Award. Along with a few humorous stories, he gave a moving talk which focused on the Eucharist. 

The team at Spirit Catholic Radio was delighted by the incredible turnout for the event. This year's dinner was the largest of the previous seven years. We enjoyed seeing both new and old faces of our friends and listeners; volunteers; board members; priests and religious men and women; and on-air guests. The radio network extends its gratitude to everyone who helped make the evening possible.

A complete photo gallery from the event can be found here. Thanks to Dominic and Sean Carney for the beautiful photos.