‘Like one big family’: St. Mary’s Feast in Cranston set for 111th year

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Familiar summer sights – the lights, the Italian and American flags, the banners – now adorn Cranston Street, Phenix Avenue and Itri Square.

They mark the impending arrival of St. Mary’s Feast, which returns July 20-24 for its 111th installment. The celebration, rooted in a centuries-old religious miracle an ocean away, has over the decades become a vital part of Cranston’s identity, drawing tens of thousands or revelers each year.

“The feast is like a holiday for us,” said Thomas DeSio, a St. Mary’s Feast Society trustee and grand marshal of the feast parade. “This is like one big family…not only for the society, but for the whole neighborhood.”

As with the feast’s 110th edition in 2015, organizers have this year placed a renewed focus on the gathering’s religious and cultural roots.

The tradition dates to 796 A.D., at Mount Civita in the town of Itri, Italy. It is there, as the story goes, that a shepherd was cured of his muteness upon looking into a tree and observing an image of Mary and the infant Jesus. A temple was built at the site, and Pope Pius VI in 1777 commemorated the sacred event and crowned the “Maria Santissima della Civita” – the “Blessed Mother of Mount Civita.”

As immigrants from Itri settled in Cranston’s Knightsville section in the early 20th century, they brought the tradition with them. The first Madonna della Civita – St. Mary’s Feast – was held in conjunction with St. Rocco’s Church in Johnston in July 1905. In 1925, St. Mary’s Church in Cranston was established.

“We honor the Blessed Mother,” DeSio said. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s her day.”

The parade with the Madonna from the church – scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 24 – will this year again be a religious, traditional procession. But the five-day feast promises the familiar events and activities of years past, including music, food, a carnival and fireworks. This year will also see the return of the St. Mary’s Road Race, which was not held in 2015.

“We’re continuing the traditions of the feast,” society secretary Christopher Buonanno said, speaking in glowing terms of the “really great acts” lined up to provide entertainment.

Festivities begin Wednesday, July 20, running from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Hours are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, July 21; 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, July 22; 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, July 22; and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 24.

The fireworks show is set for 10 p.m. on July 24. Rockwell Amusements will provide the carnival attractions, and a variety of vendors will be present throughout the festivities. Admission, entertainment, and parking are all free.

At the Gazebo, vocalist Janine Andrews will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 22, while the evening of July 23 will feature a dance studio from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and “sophisticated swing” from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The General Centracchio Band will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 24.

At the main stage, DJ Vito Georgio will perform from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 20, while the Party Rock Girls will bring their sounds from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on July 21. Elvis impersonator Robert Black and comedian Brian Vincent will entertain from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 22 and July 23. Midnight Wolf and The Jam Daddy’s perform from 8 p.m. to midnight on July 22, while Tribeca takes the stage during that timeslot on July 23. On July 24, Chris Jason will perform the music of Frank Sinatra from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by The Straight Pipes from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The road race begins at 5 p.m. on July 23, with both 5.5-mile and 5K options for participants. Rick DiLibero is overseeing the race and may be contacted at stmaryrace7@cox.net or 440-2448.

DeSio, Buonanno and other society members were out at 5 a.m. on July 9 to set up for the festivities. Planning for the feast begins in February each year, and the event is the product of countless hours on the part of a number of volunteers.

“It’s a lot of work to do this feast,” DeSio said.

The community’s response to the annual gathering has fueled its continued success. DeSio recalls feasts of the pasts, when buses would bring visitors from Canada and New York for the festivities.

The draw remains strong, particularly for those with roots in Knightsville and the St. Mary’s tradition. During the feast, Buonanno noted, residents of Knightsville open their doors to family and friends, some of whom they may only see each July.

Neighbors, acquaintances and loved ones share food and drink, tell stories and catch up. The feast band goes from home to home around the square, performing songs at the different parties. Those from beyond Knightsville are welcomed to the neighborhood, taking in the tradition and sharing in the celebration as though they were family.

“People still make this their trip home,” Buonanno said. “Over the years, it’s become a community event. It’s become a Cranston staple…For me, that’s important.”

The strong bonds and deep commitment associated with the feast are perhaps best seen through its core organizers. DeSio has been involved in the feast for roughly four decades and has served as grand marshal for the past 20 years.

“I can’t believe the time went by that fast,” he said.

Buonanno first became involved as a child through his grandfather, Nicola Spirito. He and his wife, Kristen, recently had a daughter, and he looks forward to sharing the tradition with her.

“I want my daughter to have that same experience that I had with my grandfather,” he said.

For additional information, follow the St. Mary’s Feast Society page on Facebook.

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