Holy Rosary School’s annual dinner and auction fundraising gala soared to new heights last Saturday, collecting more than $130,000 to support the parochial school’s educational mission.

The annual gala is Holy Rosary School’s largest community fundraising effort, providing vital income for the school’s facilities and educational supplies. Despite a self-imposed reduction in ticket sales to allow more space at the event, supporters came through with the massive fundraising contribution.

A little over 230 people attended the gala, organizers said, with many more participating in an online silent auction for dozens of donated items on display at the event.

School Principal Lori Racine said the ever-increasing support from the community each year has allowed Holy Rosary School to flourish at a time when other Catholic parochial schools are struggling.

“Over the past eight years, Holy Rosary School rose from being questioned about their viability to being one of the fastest growing Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of St. Louis,” Racine commented in an email. “Holy Rosary welcomes all Christian families, has scholarship programs, and partners with the Warren County special education department for students to receive special services.”

Over that eight-year time span, Racine said Holy Rosary’s enrollment has increased by 55 percent.

“The school’s growth has provided the opportunity to add a preschool, classroom aides, and an expansion of classrooms,” Racine continued, adding that financial support has also provided for facility renovations and equipment upgrades such as classroom smartboards and enough Chromebook laptops for every student. She thanked all the supporters who continued to show their generosity at the weekend gala.

“I have been so blessed and incredibly surprised at the amazing support that the parishioners and community members have for Holy Rosary School,” she said.

Holy Rosary Pastor Tom Vordtriede also thanked attendees for the church and school’s educational mission. It was Vordtriede’s first time attending and helping with the ceremonies of the in-person gala. Being relatively new to Holy Rosary, Vordtriede’s first fundraiser was last year’s online-only auction.

Auctioneering services were provided by Dusty Thornhill of Thornhill auction and Bart Korman of Korman Auction. The master of ceremonies was Brian Gleize.

Items for sale in the silent auction spanned a wide range of interests, from Dairy Queen coupons, to artwork, to sports memorabilia and much else. The live auction main event featured larger, more valuable and/or less tangible goods and services — items like daytime getaways, sports tickets, rock hauling and a custom dining experience.

The most unique parts of the auction each year are the items aimed at school parents and church parishioners, including a highly competitive bid for a dedicated church parking space that went for several hundred dollars this year.