St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 3024 S. Ruch St., Stiles, held its annual picnic Sept. 4. All agreed it was a huge success.

The church pastor, Monsignor Gerald Gobitas, said he was delighted at the attendance and appreciated all the hard work volunteers completed to make the event run well.

Denise Rogers, one of the food ordering and preparing coordinators, was impressed with the number of volunteers who executed their roles to make for happy attendees. James Yellen was selling tickets, while his Northampton Area High School athlete and scholar daughter Nicole assisted at the kids’ games area. Her mother, Donna, filled in as needed at a number of picnic activities.

The Joyous Band entertained with its flair of current music that attracted more young adults to the picnic. The tents were full, and the adult beverage tent was consistently busy.

Pat Colodonato and Sheila Klement staffed the homemade baked goods area and anticipated a total sellout by the end of the picnic. Sunny Muniz, Stephanie Tashner, Justin Sommer, Joseph Heberling and many other volunteers worked together to keep attendees content and well fed.

Terry Kuchera, of Coplay, was busy throughout the picnic as he tended to refuse cleanup and sanitation services. Jimmy Semler, a former Coplay Public Library board president for many years, whose father was a longtime worker for St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Coplay, applied his volunteering skills at the picnic.

Many mentioned the picnic was a well-thought-out, well-planned and well-executed event with some volunteers already looking forward to a bigger and even more successful church picnic in 2023.