The spirit of familia – family, food, faith, and fierce generosity – lit up St Luke’s Parish, Marsden Park, during its third annual Italian Dinner Dance, where more than 170 guests gathered for a night that was as festive as it was heartfelt.
Held on Saturday, 26 July in St Luke’s Catholic College Performance Hall, the evening served up more than just delicious Italian fare and music. It was a celebration of community and a shared commitment to building something lasting: a new parish home and a legacy of faith.
A night of faith, food and familia
Plates were filled with pasta and slices of woodfired pizza, while Italian tunes and spirited dancing brought la dolce vita to Marsden Park. But beneath the fun was a deeper purpose: raising funds for the construction of the parish’s permanent church.
“It’s a very active community, filled with lots of goodwill,” said Parish Priest Fr Gayan Thamel, who opened the evening with a blessing.
“What once lived in faith and prayers … is now rising up.”
Parish Priest Fr Gayan Thamal at the St Luke’s Marsden Park Dinner Dance. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Smiling, he added, “One step on the dancefloor is another step towards our church.”
Powered by volunteers
While around 1 in 4 people volunteer in Australia; at St Luke’s, the figure is closer to 70 per cent – a testament to a parish built on service and connection.
“We’ve got one of the highest rates of volunteerism in the Diocese, with over 150 volunteers,” said Nars Lumba, Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council and emcee for the night.
Nars is a true example of that spirit, also serving as a Reader, Social Media Lead, and Choir Member.
Chair of the St Luke’s Parish Pastoral Council and MC, Nars Lumba at the St Luke’s Marsden Park Dinner Dance. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Fundraising with flavour
Described by Fr Gayan as a “much-loved and now legendary fundraising event,” the Italian Dinner Dance supports the building of a permanent church.
“The construction of the first stage of the church building is finished. We’re now in the final stages, and I’m very excited,” Fr Gayan said.
Since 2021, the community has raised over $700,000 through its Church Building Donors campaign.
“I’d say around 70 per cent of the community are part of this pledge,” Finance Committee Chair Arvin Joya said.
“How many times do you have a chance to be part of the legacy? We can say, ‘We were the ones who started this church.’”
This month, nearly 30 more families will join, committing their support for the next two years.
Culture, connection and a creche
That spirit of unity extended to the DJ’s playlist, which featured songs handpicked by the Parish’s cultural groups, including Filipino, Pacific Islander, Sri Lankan and Australian communities.
“It’s about knowing what the community wants,” said Aleta Dela Cruz, Chair of the Fundraising Committee.
“I’ve been involved since the first Dinner Dance, and now I’ve got a bit of a template. But each year, we keep improving.”
Event organisers and volunteers at the St Luke’s Marsden Park Dinner Dance. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
First-time sponsor Kav Prasad of LJ Hooker Schofields–Marsden Park said it felt “like a family reunion.”
The inclusion of a child-minding creche, from the Come to Jesus Church, a Christian church in nearby Glendenning, meant parents could enjoy the evening worry and guilt-free. Nearly 20 children played games, made friends, and shared giggles on the night.
“It’s a slumber party technically,” grinned 12-year-old Hannah. “It’s been really fun.”
Growth beyond the building
With the new parish building edging toward completion, the sense of anticipation is tangible.
Regular events like Morning Tea and Name Tag Sundays, as well as fortnightly food stalls, have helped forge meaningful connections among families, while recent celebrations like Fr Gayan’s surprise 51st birthday party in June, the commissioning of new Ministers of the Altar by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, in May, and the 7th Founding Anniversary of St Luke’s – have deepened the Parish’s shared identity.
Zumba-style instructor Brody Yap entertained on the night at the St Luke’s Marsden Park Dinner Dance. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Faith in action
The Italian Dinner Dance wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was faith in action, echoing the Diocesan Pastoral Plan’s call for a Church alive with community, renewal, and hope.
As the last slice of pizza disappeared and music filled the hall, one thing was clear: at St Luke’s, the future is being built not only with bricks and mortar, but with every plate served, every song sung, and every hand raised in service.
In the spirit of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, this celebration reflects the priority of Community, and the shared objective to building a welcoming and inclusive Church.
View images from the St Luke’s dinner-dance on Flickr here.
