One hundred and fifty people gathered at the John Paul II High School Cafetorium on Saturday May 1 to celebrate the silver anniversary of Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School.

One hundred and fifty people gathered at the John Paul II High School Cafetorium on Saturday May 1 to celebrate the silver anniversary of Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School.

The fun filled evening was off to an early start with a VIP reception and silent auction.

While current eighth grade students served as hosts and greeters for the evening, dinner was expertly served by past students of Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School.

Special guests included Bishop Emeritus Rene H. Gracida, Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody and the CEO of the Kenedy Foundation, Gen. Marc Cisneros.

The Lou Garriga family of Bridge City, Texas, made a surprise visit to the anniversary celebration. The Garriga family are relatives of the school's namesake – the late Bishop Mariano S. Garriga (1949-1965).

Past principals of the middle school, Barbara Heater and Margaret McGettrick, were also in attendance along with the current principal Ms. Rosario Davila.

Following the inspirational addresses of Bishops Gracida and Carmody, Marty Wind of KLUX, executed the live auction with animated energy. Live auction items included hunting trips donated by the Kenedy Foundation and the Devlin family, dinner for 8 prepared by Fr. Joseph Lopez, racquetball lessons with Bishop Carmody and tennis lessons with Fr. Peter Marsalek.

Following the auction, Fr. Peter remarked, "you know you are in South Texas when bidding for food and hunting trips trump tennis and racquetball lessons!"

The evening climaxed with a special announcement by General Cisneros that the Kenedy Foundation would be donating a $2,000,000.00 grant to the school for construction of a permanent structure to help accommodate the growing campus.

The Bishop Garriga Silver Anniversary Banquet raised $36,900.00, with proceeds going towards the purchase of an air conditioning system for the Kenedy Cultural Center.