• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Sunday, September 24, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide 2023
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • San Juan Football Preview
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • WSL Rip Curl Guide 2023
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide 2023
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • San Juan Football Preview
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • WSL Rip Curl Guide 2023
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Mission Gala Honors Longtime Supporters

by Capo Dispatch
September 2, 2021 10:00AM
in EYE ON SJC, News
Mission Gala Honors Longtime Supporters
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Collin Breaux | Twitter: @collin_breaux

After Connie Spenuzza used to drop off her children at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in the early 1990s, she stopped at Mission San Juan Capistrano to say her prayers and visit the Serra Chapel.

“It became a ritual, and you realize how important it is—on a spiritual level—to honor those places, because they do provide us tremendous comfort … especially in a time of need,” Spenuzza said.

Spenuzza is Roman Catholic and lives in Dana Point with her husband, Peter Spenuzza. The couple has lived in the area for more than 30 years and are longtime supporters of the Mission. Connie has been on the Preservation Foundation Board of Directors for 15 years.

She eventually met Mission Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams and other Mission officials during her visits to the site, and they encouraged her to get involved behind the scenes.

“Mechelle just struck me as someone who was really going to transform the Mission for the good,” Spenuzza said. “It’s always been a beautiful place. It’s been there for as long as we can recall.”

Longtime Mission San Juan Capistrano supporters Peter and Connie Spenuzza will be honored at the Romance of the Mission benefit gala on Sept. 17. Photo: Lisa Renee Baker.

Connie and Peter Spenuzza will be honored at the Romance of the Mission benefit gala on Sept. 17. The sold-out event will be held on the historic grounds and is returning after a hiatus.  

“Following the disappointing cancellations of our 2020 events, the Mission’s Board of Directors is thrilled that the gala will resume to generate awareness and replenish important Mission preservation efforts,” Adams said. “The gala is also an opportunity to recognize the many angels among us—like Connie and Peter Spenuzza—who helped get us through this past year, reopen the Mission twice in less than 12 months, and allow the Mission to rise up and serve our community in new and meaningful ways.”

Singer Loren Allred will perform at the gala.

Spenuzza fondly remembers her first gala in the 2000s after she had joined the Preservation Foundation Board and began donating to the Mission, when the couple took photos with past honorees.

“It feels good. It feels like history,” Spenuzza said of her turn at being recognized. “It’s been a wonderful thing. We’ve lived here long enough, and we’ve loved the Mission long enough, and it’s nice to get a thank you. We’re grateful.”

Spenuzza is also excited to finally see other Mission supporters and friends in-person again after the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to some gatherings. She expects the Mission to again look beautiful for the event.

“It’s quintessential early California. The lighting is gorgeous,” Spenuzza said. “People are happy. The food is great.”

Connie and Peter Spenuzza have been married for 42 years. Their two sons are now in their 30s and live in Newport Beach.

“We feel very much in touch with the nature and beauty of South Orange County,” Spenuzza said. “We all just love the ocean, breezes, and friendships. We feel very grateful we found our place.”

Collin Breaux covers San Juan Capistrano and other South Orange County news as the City Editor for The Capistrano Dispatch. Before moving to California, he covered Hurricane Michael, politics and education in Panama City, Florida. He can be reached by email at cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: benefit galaCaliforniaConnie SpenuzzaDana PointFeaturedgalamission galaMission San Juan CapistranoOrange CountyRomance of the MissionSan Juan Capistrano
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

Family, Friends Gather to Commemorate Deputy Haney with Memorial Dedication

Family, Friends Gather to Commemorate Deputy Haney with Memorial Dedication

September 22, 2023 - Updated on September 23, 2023
News Next Door: Capistrano Beach Family Finds, Adopts Formerly-Stray Dogs

News Next Door: Capistrano Beach Family Finds, Adopts Formerly-Stray Dogs

September 22, 2023 - Updated on September 23, 2023
Wellness & Prevention: September Is National Suicide Prevention Month

Wellness & Prevention: September Is National Suicide Prevention Month

September 22, 2023
South County ROCKS: Ohana Intro—Thee Sacred Souls

South County ROCKS: Ohana Intro—Thee Sacred Souls

September 22, 2023
Next Post
Public Art Advocates Celebrate Decorated Utility Box

Public Art Advocates Celebrate Decorated Utility Box

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide 2023
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • San Juan Football Preview
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • WSL Rip Curl Guide 2023
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media