St. Brigid’s Italian Festival was ‘meraviglioso’

Faith, fellowship, fun and food!

Those are – and have been for years – the trademarks of the annual St. Brigid’s Italian Festival that people like Millie Santilli said, “is held in September to coincide with our parish’s Feast Day.”

It’s a coming together of proud parishioners – as well as members of the community – to support the Roman Catholic Church in a number of ways.

Although no one was talking about age – or when the Italian Festival began – people like Santilli were quick to heap words of praise on Louisa Iannotti who founded the fun and food fest and spearheaded the event to raise some money for St. Brigid’s Church.

“Louisa did so, God bless her, along with our Social Ministry that has always been a vital part of our church,” said Santilli, a highly-active parishioner who now chairs the ambitious event and serves as assistant director of the Johnston Senior Center. “The Festival has been going on ever since.”

Santilli, who took over the chairmanship six years ago, noted how the Festival has grown in popularity and attendance in recent years. One reason why the Italian Festival has been an overwhelming success in recent years is due to the generosity of a family that prays at St. Brigid’s and owns and operates one of Rhode Island’s most popular Italian-American Restaurants.

“The Marchetti family of Marchetti’s Restaurant that’s located in the Knightsville section of Cranston donated all this food,” said Santilli while helping serve sausage and peppers, chicken parmigiana, pasta and salad Sunday. “They also donated the wine and that helps boost our profits.”

There’s yet another story each year during the Italian Festival, and that centers on a number of parishioners who served on Santilli’s committee and made special homemade pastry for the day’s dessert.

“A huge shout out thank you to Cynthia Galipeau, Louisa (Iannotti), Josie Gemma, Doris Haskins, Angelia Pecchia, Angela Fillipone, Sandy McCarthy, Rose DeLuca and Nadine Carona; they really outdid themselves this year.”

Add to that list what Santilli called the “extraordinary volunteerism” of Carol Morocco, a CCD teacher at St. Brigid’s, “who is a huge asset to us and the church yet stays behind the scenes performing all sorts of duties.”

Moreover, Santilli and Galipeau – who are long-time friends – donated all the prizes for a raffle and the day’s success was even greater thanks to the generosity of Chris Giordina, a JSC volunteer who donated special shorts for the Italian Festival.

In the middle of Sunday’s fun-filled Italian Festival was Rev. Robert Rochon, the popular pastor at St. Brigid’s who walked around the jam-packed event thanking people for coming and extending the parish’s special blessings.