Benefit dinner for the nuns
of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
November 1, 2025
Parma, Ohio
Registration
Registration is free!
Registration is required, by October 13
Event Schedule
4:00 p.m. Vespers (Evening Prayer) at St. Josaphat Cathedral (same parking lot as the Astrodome)
4:45 p.m. Doors Open
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:15 p.m. Presentation & appeal
8:15 p.m. Entertainment: Comedy by Mother Iliana and Shayne Smith
9:00 p.m. Announcement of total donations raised
Location
Astrodome Event Center
(At St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral)
5720 State Rd
Parma, Ohio
This Year's Video
During the presentation, enjoy the premiere of our new, short video, "With Sighs Too Deep for Words: Reflections on Prayer." You can view previous videos on our YouTube channel, such as "Receive the Gift: Reflections on Chastity," "Be Poor with Me: Reflections on Poverty," "Bethany: Supporting Spiritual Fatherhood," "Spiritual Motherhood," and "Christ our Bridegroom."How to Donate/Pledge
You can donate and/or pledge online or by mail, even if you cannot attend the event. Here’s how:
--Online
Visit this link to pledge or donate by credit card or EFT.
--By Mail
You may send a donation and/or pledge, marked "Bridegroom's Banquet" on the memo line, by cash or check payable to "Christ the Bridegroom Monastery" to:
The Bridegroom's Banquet
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
17485 Mumford Rd.
Burton, OH 44021
Use of the Funds
This year, the funds will be used for:
- General operation of the monastery; support our life of prayer and hospitality
- Support the first steps of the building of a larger monastery
Featuring
Father Michael O'Loughlin grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the oldest of 5. He currently has 20 nieces and nephews and counting. He went to public school, then attended Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California for a year before graduating with a BA in Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. Fr. Michael was ordained for the Eparchy of Phoenix in 2005 after seminary at Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh. He served as a priest in Denver, Colorado, for 14 years where he was a member of the priestly fraternity "Companions of Christ". He is now the pastor of the Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary in Los Angeles and a long-term friend of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery. Fr. Michael treasures being a pastor and spiritual father, loves evangelization, and spends his leisure time with friends. He sporadically visits the Catholic Stuff You Should Know podcast, and currently co-hosts the What God Is Not podcast with Mother Natalia.
Mother Iliana has been a member of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery since 2014. She puts the nuns in stitches at the dinner table with her comedic story-telling abilities. Content for her tales comes from her Ukrainian family, innocent trust in others’ words, and her propensity for mishaps! Her book, “The Light of His Eyes,” has touched many readers through its illuminating anecdotes.
Shayne Smith is a Utah-born comedian, writer, podcaster, musician, and Catholic Convert whose raw, story-driven clean comedy has earned him a devoted following. After launching his stand-up career in 2014, he quickly amassed accolades including runner-up in Wiseguys’ 2015 “Funniest Person in Utah” contest and Best Alternative Comedian of 2016 by City Weekly. He went on to release a string of acclaimed specials: Prison for Wizards (2018), Alligator Boys (2019), The Animal (2021), Banned from Karate (2023), and most recently Ghosts Are Real (January 2025). Alongside his specials, Shayne has traveled the country sharing his testimony and experience with his faith since his conversion.
