Chef to make five-course meal for Queen of Angels fundraiser
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A Louisiana chef with a flair for making Cajun food will cook a five-course dinner at a Penn Township country club on June 28 to celebrate an Irwin priest’s recovery from pancreatic cancer.
The event is a fundraiser for Queen of Angels Catholic School in North Huntingdon.
John Folse, known as “Louisiana’s Culinary Ambassador to the World” from television and radio, writing books and helping to found a culinary institute, will join Westmoreland Country Club chef Mark Henry to cook “A Taste of Louisiana” that will be served at 7 p.m. at the club at 7100 Mellon Road.
The Rev. John A. Moineau, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Irwin, said in a recent video the fundraiser is being held “in celebration of my gift and miracle, of course, over cancer.” Folse had been following Moineau’s cancer journey through the priest’s social media postings.
The event, which is sold out, has raised $100,000 for Queen of Angels through the sale of about 200 tickets and from sponsorships, said Christina Torok, director of development and marketing for Queen of Angels School. The money raised through the dinner will be used to improve facilities at the school, Torok said.
Moineau, who serves on the board of pastors for Queen of Angels Catholic School, was diagnosed in 2021 with stage 4 pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. Moineau kept parishioners informed about his treatments during the covid-19 lockdown with YouTube videos. One of his videos on YouTube had more than 10,000 views, according to the Diocese of Greensburg.
Moineau announced in July 2022 that a recent PET scan did not indicate any cancer, which he said was a miracle brought on by “all of your prayers and support.”
Folse connected with fellow restaurateur Barbara Braun, who arranged for the two men to meet. She co-owned Chesterfield’s in North Huntingdon with her late husband, Jack Braun.
“Chef Folse was really touched by Father John’s passion for forming disciples and his commitment to Queen of Angels Catholic School. So, he wanted to do something to help the cause,” Braun said in a statement.