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School News | Tuesday, March 07, 2023

Pig-Nic breeds community, competition at St. Theresa School

Father Manny Alvarez, Little Flower's pastor, and Carmelite Sister Rosalie Nagy, St. Theresa School principal, pose with surprise intergalactic guests from the Star Wars realm at the “May the Pork Be With You” team booth at the Jan. 29, 2023 Pig-Nic.

Photographer: COURTESY

Father Manny Alvarez, Little Flower's pastor, and Carmelite Sister Rosalie Nagy, St. Theresa School principal, pose with surprise intergalactic guests from the Star Wars realm at the “May the Pork Be With You” team booth at the Jan. 29, 2023 Pig-Nic.

CORAL GABLES | The competition was fierce and the pork was tender as 12 teams from St. Theresa School and the Church of the Little Flower battled for bragging rights at the 16th St. Theresa School Family Pig-Nic, Jan. 29, 2023.

Ashley Sacks, Little Flower Parish director of Development, holds the piggy ballot boxes ready to be filled with the votes for the People’s Choice award at the parish school's Pig-Nic, Jan. 29, 2023.

Photographer: COURTESY

Ashley Sacks, Little Flower Parish director of Development, holds the piggy ballot boxes ready to be filled with the votes for the People’s Choice award at the parish school's Pig-Nic, Jan. 29, 2023.

As the official kickoff to Catholic Schools Week, the Pig-Nic brings together school and church families for an afternoon celebrating community and shared Catholic values.

Ensuring that there are no barriers to participating, the event is completely free of charge and includes hearty samplings from every team, chocolate chip cookies from My Kids Chef, beer tasting from Kombi Keg and samples from local restaurant Meat N’ Bone.

“This is one of my favorite school events of the year. Everyone just comes out to have a good time and build community. Plus, it allows me to eat copious amounts of pork,” said Father Manny Alvarez, Little Flower’s pastor, who is also on the judging panel.

Children whizzed around the school’s track in tricycles, skates and bikes, while others played soccer and basketball on the field all afternoon as parents watched from picnic blankets scattered throughout. There was also a DJ, domino tables and story time courtesy of Miami-Dade Public Libraries. Meanwhile, the competing cooks roasted, sauced and served up their prizeworthy submissions to nearly 800 guests.

Team “Swine Bar” came out on top as the 2023 VIP Judge’s Choice, selected by the tasting panel that included Father Alvarez, Father Andrew Tomonto, City of Coral Gables Commissioner Kirk Menendez and Chef Donatella Arpaia.

The coveted People’s Choice Award went to “Piggy Me Preguntó” and the Best Decorated Booth prize went to “May the Pork be With You,” a booth topped with a steaming pig-nosed Darth Vader and special guest Storm Troopers.

The 16th Annual Pig-Nic was made possible with support from community businesses including Casa Smiles, Miami-Dade Public Library System, My Kids Chef, Meat N’ Bone, Kombi Keg Miami and Unique Designers Cake.

2023 VIP Judge’s Choice winner, Swine Bar, celebrate their big win at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables' Pig-Nic, held Jan. 29, 2023.

Photographer: COURTESY

2023 VIP Judge’s Choice winner, Swine Bar, celebrate their big win at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables' Pig-Nic, held Jan. 29, 2023.


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