Gents-only fashion show benefits retreats

Come, rest awhile. This is the calling of the sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, who operate the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana.

Since 1978, when the late Thomas and Emma Jane Riley committed their formidable community resources to the sisters and their retreat center, the project has grown into a local treasure. The core fundraiser for the retreat center is an all-male fashion show known as Gentlemen’s Haberdashery. The 28th annual event was held last week at the Irvine Marriott Hotel.

Chaired by prominent O.C. citizens Tony and Melinda Moiso, the event showcased some 50 gents parading down the fashion runway. On the catwalk were publisher Chris Schulz wearing an outfit from Gary’s; Jeff Bullock in clothes from Indigo Palms; Steve Ball showing off St. Croix; Grant Williams in a T-shirt, sweater and jacket from the Closet; the Strader family of Newport Beach ? Tim Sr., Tim Jr. and Tim III ? all wearing Reyn Spooner Hawaiian-themed clothes from Gary’s Island; and Rand and Brian Sperry looking very cool in outfits from At-Ease.

Also on the runway were Donald and Parker Kennedy, Hadi and Paul Makarechian, Chuck Trevisan, Shawn Baldwin, Vincent Moiso, Bill Watt, Rev. Steve Shallot, and two Marines: Col. Stewart Navarre and Capt. Philip Giarraputa.

They all came for the sisters, the center and the children served by the retreat center. Founded in Hungary in 1940 by Ida Peterfy, a teenager living in Europe during the Nazi occupation, the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart was created to demonstrate to children that God was about love, not hate, oppression, violence, genocide and war. Peterfy dedicated her life to her church on her 18th birthday. Sent to a concentration camp for two years, she survived and emigrated to Toronto in 1950. In 1956 Peterfy and her fellow sisters came to the United States at the invitation of the former archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal James Francis McIntrye. The Santa Ana Center was created in 1977. Today, thousands of children and families attend retreats to find a message of love and humanity in the heart of Orange County.

As in years past, the show included participation by children involved with the center. Daily Pilot columnist Peter Buffa served as fashion show commentator along with Melanie Salata Fitch. Children from the center also appeared on stage for a song.

In the audience were Sandy and Doug Keedy, Eden and George O’Connell, Lynette and Michael Hayde, Jill and Pat Ortiz, Gaye and Art Birtcher, Irene Vermeulen, Melinda Wayne Munoz, Mary Muth, Barbara Roppolo, Paul Johnson, Bob Wilhelm and Patrick Murphy. The program raised $300,000.

According to the sisters, “A retreat is an opportunity to reflect, share and strengthen life-giving values and virtues with peers. Experience shows that this one day can make the difference of a lifetime.” Indeed.