By Deacon Sal Lema
Before I explain about how a Trifecta is developed, let me first answer the question as to what a Seton Classic Trifecta is. For the past five years our parish has been running some sort of car show event. It started when our former pastor Fr. Killian McCaffrey talked with me one day about cars. He said that during his career before becoming a priest, he had worked for General Motors and was familiar with Pontiac cars. He noticed that I drove a classic Pontiac Firebird to church on occasion. Seeing the car, he felt I would be a good choice to develop a car show for the parish. And so, it began with two “cruise-ins” the first year. When parishioners in the parish talked about having a craft fair and a pancake breakfast, I thought why not combine all three? So, the second year we promoted the Seton Classic Trifecta combining the car show, craft fair, pancake breakfast, and a lot of other ways to have fun. It has continued to grow every year, and October 18 will be our third Trifecta, with proceeds going to the remodeling of the parish church for our 50th anniversary celebration in 2026.
So, what does it take to build a Trifecta event? With any major parish event, volunteers are the key element to its success, and it is no different with our Seton Classic Trifecta. We have volunteers for chairpersons, cooks, car spotters, sign installers, for signing-up crafters, and to knock on the doors of restaurant owners and shop keepers and businesses all over town to solicit items for our show. Permissions must be acquired for parking lots for the event, arrangements must be made with our vigilant Sun City Posse, and advertisements need to be sent out. And let’s not forget those who go to every car show and club around town giving out our flyers to register their cars for the event.
You see, our committee is a working committee. They don’t just sit and talk; they go out and do! The three co-chairs this year represent those who are willing to take complaints, those who are involved with advertising, and those who make the sometimes-hard decisions. All of our volunteers prepare and hustle so that on October 18 all will be ready for our event.
The Trifecta is also family-oriented, and so we have expanded it to include games for the kids in order to keep their attention while the adults check out the basket raffle and silent auction items of this year’s event. And for those looking for a car, there are both classic cars and new cars in our show to tease you into thinking about how one will look in your garage.
When the planning committee first met, we sat at a table and dreamed of the event’s success. Next, we listed the items necessary to put on the show and then asked you, our wonderful parishioners, to supply these. It took some time, but we secured a PA system, sandwich boards for signage, a website, and a way of receiving donations. We need lots of signs at the show, including those giving instructions about where to park and where the bathrooms are located. We also needed golf carts to bring the patrons from the additional parking lots to our parish center. In addition, we needed tubs to hold ice cold bottled water and a lot of prizes, as well as tickets for raffling these prizes off. The very heart of our parish faith community was called upon to support our cause.
We also had to advertise! Weeks before the event we have to let everyone know about our pancake breakfast and lunch, our basket raffle, the classic car judging, the 50/50 and the huge craft fair.
The volunteers met once a month until the last month, during which they met every week, and on the day before the event they did a trial run to make sure that all was in working order and the volunteers knew what each person would do. This year the proceeds of this event will help in the remodeling of the church as we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2026.
We arrive early on Saturday to setup all the exterior tables, signs, and tents; the inside was setup the night before. The chef is busy cooking up those pancakes and sausages and getting everything ready for the hungry folks wanting breakfast. The volunteers know what to do from our previous night’s meeting and move speedily along without direction. Before the music starts, Fr. Williams is asked for his blessing on the event, and with fingers-crossed this year’s Trifecta begins.
We hope you will join us October 18th, from 8 am until 1 pm. The parish will be loaded with folks from the neighborhood and well beyond. We welcome all to our third Annual Trifecta. Enjoy the food, the crafts, the cars, the music, the raffles, and the weather! But most of all enjoy our Catholic faith community, St. Elizabeth Seton, the parish we love.
