Troy — The Catholic Church has got talent. And Regina Caeli Academy is going to prove it.

The various skills of southeast Michigan’s priests will be on display when the curtain raises April 11 on the first Fabulous Fathers Priest Talent Show to benefit the local academy, which provides resources for Catholic homeschooling families.

Four local priests are expected to showcase their gifts during the event, which also includes dinner, live and silent auctions and a book signing by EWTN anchor Raymond Arroyo at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy. Fr. Patrick Gonyeau, associate pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak, and Fr. Felix Alsola, chaplain at Providence Hospital in Southfield, will sing and play guitar, while Fr. John Simoneau, LC, associate pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius (Slovak) Parish in Sterling Heights will play the piano and offer a comedy routine, said Keri Beckman, national executive director of Regina Caeli.

And while the singing won’t include any heavy metal, another type of act might. Fr. Eric Fedewa, associate pastor of St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills and a trained blacksmith, will offer a demonstration in metalworking.

Items for the live and silent auctions also will have a local clergy connection, including an original artwork by St. Anastasia Parish pastor Fr. J.J. Mech and dinner with SS. Cyril & Methodius pastor Fr. Benjamin Kosnac. The evening will be emceed by Arroyo, host of EWTN’s “The World Over” news program and a New York Times bestselling author.

Regina Caeli is a nonprofit Catholic homeschooling resource center with nine locations nationwide. The Metro Detroit location opened in August 2014 and currently serves 40 families and 156 students with 34 staff members, with a waiting list for some classes. Students meet with tutors at the center two days a week, while spending the other three days at home.

The center offers a “tutor-led curriculum” complete with lesson plans and test-grading services. Subjects include math, science, history, theology and Latin using the classical, Mother of Divine Grace curriculum, which is fully accredited, Beckman said, so students receive a transcript.

While Regina Caeli primarily assists with academics, “most important is just having a community where there’s support for homeschooling families so they don’t feel like they’re an island unto themselves,” she said.

The center currently meets in the activities building of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, but is exploring expansion because of high demand — a good problem to have in such a short time, Beckman said.

“We are brand-new in Detroit; this is our first year and we’re very excited to be there,” she said.

 

Fabulous Fathers Priest Talent Show

What: An evening of entertainment, dinner and auctions to benefit Regina Caeli Academy, a local resource center for Catholic homeschooling families

Who: Four local priests will perform, with program hosted by EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo

Where: American Polish Cultural Center, 2975 East Maple Road in Troy

When: 7 p.m. April 11 (book signing with Raymond Arroyo and silent auction at 6 p.m.)

Tickets: $55; visit www.rcahybrid.org or call (678) 878-2500