Kevin Kelly/Key photo Spiro Arvanitakis, owner of Peter's Clothiers, measures Father Chuck Tobin, pastor of St. Sabina Parish in Belton, for a new suit.

At the 16th annual Priests and Seminarians Appreciation Day, another 53 priests won black suits, each with a full retail value of $895, donated by the eight Serra International chapters in both dioceses and Peter's Clothiers, one of the finest men's clothing stores in the metropolitan area.

The suits were purchased by Serra members at Peter's Clothier's deeply discounted price of $300. Last year, Serra gave away new suits to 43 priests.

The idea was the brainchild of Serra member Bob Miller, who beamed as a long line of priests, fresh from the golf course and a barbecue dinner, waited for Peter's Clothiers owner Spiro Arvanitakis to measure them for their new duds at St. Thomas More Parish.

In addition to the suits, Serra and Arvanitakis also gave away $500 cashmere topcoats to priests whose names were drawn out of a basket. Other retailers donated prizes and gift certificates - including vacation packages, sports tickets and merchandise - to the 93 priests from both sides of the state line who attended the event, and Serra members also raised the money to give each of the 44 seminarians from the two dioceses a check for $250.

Miller said the prizes and money were raised from donations from businesses, individual members and from hole sponsorships at the annual golf outing for the priests. This year's event raised some $160,000, he said.

"If there is anything left over, it goes to Conception (Seminary College)" Miller said.

Miller, however, refused to take credit for the annual event which allows priests to set aside their parish duties for one day and have fun together.

"I don't have any great ideas," he said. "I just listen to people who do."

Among the winners of new suits was Conception Abbot Gregory Polan. But the abbot won a new suit last year.

"I traded my suit to a priest who needed one for his $100 gift certificate to Borders Books," Abbot Gregory said, beaming at the deal.

Well into the dinner and raffle, master of ceremonies Kerm Fendler, a member of the downtown Kansas City Serra International chapter, was struggling mightily to be heard over the crowd of excited priests, seminarians and Serrans who, by all appearances, were having a great time.

"I heard that getting priests together is like herding cats," Fendler said. "Well, I'm going to herd some cats."

Fendler also told the priests and seminarians what should be obvious: They are loved.

"I think this event speaks volumes about how people feel about our priests," he said.

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