Shortly after the 81st Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner on Oct. 15, The Good Newsroom’s Executive Editor Mary Kate Polanin caught up with content creator and co-founder of Catholic young adult group Pizza to Pews, Kate DePetro, about what it was like to be one of the evening’s youngest people invited to sit on the dais as a guest of honor.  

The Good Newsroom (TGN): What was it like to participate in a major Catholic social event like the Al Smith Dinner? 

Kate DePetro (KD): For me, as someone who grew up watching the Al Smith Dinner every year with my family and knowing exactly how much it means to the Catholic Church and Catholic Charities, it was really an honor. It was just surreal to be seated on the dais with all these important people. I had Jon Ledecky, the owner of the New York Islanders, on my right and Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Hochul on my left. The night is all about non-partisanship and having a good laugh. To have the work that I’m doing with my co-founder Anthony [Gross] and Pizza to Pews recognized in that way was just incredible. 

Mary [Callahan Erdoes, vice chair of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation] did such a wonderful job speaking, and to have her single out Pizza to Pews and really lift up what we’re doing on such a major stage was amazing. I remember walking up to receive the rosaries from her, and who hands them to me but Cardinal Dolan? The work I’m doing with Pizza to Pews is only because of how important my faith is to me and wanting to meet other Catholics, so it really was a special moment. I was grateful to be working with the foundation’s team [Kate McGowan, Justine Carroll, Daniel Mileno, and Danielle Vazzano] that night.  

TGN: What did it mean for you to have your organization specifically singled out ? 

KD: Like I said, I started Pizza to Pews because I wanted to make new friends at Church. It really started organically with my friend Anthony at St. Joseph’s [Church in Greenwich Village] and took off from there. We now have different chapters across the country, in places like Palm Beach, Florida.  For something that only started in March of this year, it’s amazing how much it’s grown. 

There are a few different things bringing young people to Pizza to Pews. One that I see are just young Catholics moving to big cities like New York and wanting to find that community of people who share their faith. As big of a city as it is, it can be really lonely and just the fact that you have a group of people to walk with to Mass can make a huge difference. 

The other thing I see is young people coming back to Church, whether they drifted away because of COVID or during college, this is their way to get back into it. I think of Pizza to Pews as the “doorstopper” between the city sidewalk and the Church’s doorstep. Young people want to get off their phone, find community, and get back into their faith. 

TGN: Who were you most surprised to meet at the Al Smith Dinner? 

KD: I’m a New Englander, so I couldn’t believe I got to meet Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. I almost didn’t introduce myself… I didn’t know if I was allowed! Once I did, he pulled out one of his Super Bowl rings. I posted a video on social media of our meeting that the Patriots’ official account then reposted the next day, and then my phone blew up with messages from everyone I went to high school with. Now, I’m hoping we can get a Pizza to Pews event at Gillette Stadium. Drake Maye, the Patriots’ quarterback, has been so outspoken about how important his faith is to him. 

TGN: So, what’s next for Pizza to Pews? 

KD: Hopefully, more chapters across the country. Things keep growing organically. We recently had a “Pews to Views” rooftop party at the Jimmy Hotel, and over 400 people showed up. This weekend’s Pizza to Pews New York and Palm Beach were paid for by sponsors who found out about us through the Al Smith Dinner. We definitely want to have a Christmas party. We’d love to organize a mission trip. We have amazing sponsors and donors who believe in what we’re doing. Once we have the year mapped out, we want to keep thinking big.