The members of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Columbia come from a vast array of backgrounds and nationalities. Now they're inviting you to sample cuisine from their countries while enjoying live music, fellowship and fun at an International Gourmet Gala. The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the St. Peter Parish Center, Second and Union streets, Columbia.

St. Peter was once known as the "Irish Parish," reflecting the ethnicity of its founders, who built the first church in 1828. The Potato Famine in their mother country continued to bring Irish immigrants to the United States and to Columbia for decades, where many found work on the Philadelphia-Columbia Railroad. Irish priests from St. Mary's Church in Lancaster were sent to Columbia one Sunday a month to serve members of St. Peter. On the remaining Sundays, parishioners rode to Lancaster on horseback to attend Mass.

Waves of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought German and Italian Catholics, followed by newcomers from all over the world, and the parish of St. Peter became a true melting pot of cultures.

"Years ago, the parish did individual nights representing different ethnicities from our church," recalled Carole Bitts, who is helping to organize the gala. "This year, spontaneously, several people came up with the idea of doing it all in one night."

Sylvia Garner, who is also on the gala committee, said committee members approached people in the parish who were known for their cooking, including the family that makes Loreto's marinara sauce and Josie McCleary, the church secretary, who makes Filipino egg rolls.

Foods from Mediterranean countries, Northern Europe, the British Isles, India, Asia, Africa, the Philippines and the Caribbean will be served. Young adults of the parish will serve the buffet style meal and lend a hand with cleanup.

The menu will include hors d'oeuvres of German soft pretzels and Mexican guacamole with chips; Italian pasta; lumpiang Shanghai Filipino egg rolls; Polish pierogies and kielbasa; Caribbean haricots verts aux amandes (green beans almondine); Mediterranean stuffed grape leaves and hummus; Irish colcannon; Indian naan; and Blue Smoke Soul Food. Desserts will include French petit fours and German kuchen.

Live music will be performed by Al Schultz and other musicians, featuring members of the church choir as soloists. "We'll have music from many of the countries represented, and we'll have room for dancing," Bitts said.

Garner envisions the social hall full of people for the gala. "We are encouraging all community members to come, not just Catholics and not just members of our parish," she said. "It's going to be great food because we have some wonderful chefs in our parish. It's not a formal event, but it can be fancy. Just be sure you dress comfortably for dancing."

Seating is limited for the gala, and reservations are required by Sunday, Oct. 15. For more information or to make a reservation, call the parish office at 717-684-7070.