It’s a feast and festival that’s been going on for decades at Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston.
It’s considered one of Rhode Island’s best end-of-summer events, especially when it comes to home cooked Italian foods, Don DePetrillo’s delicious doughboys, family fun and those always-popular carnival rides and games of chance.
It’s a Rite of September at the Roman Catholic Church, a classic celebration held each year in honor of La Madonna della DiFesa.
In keeping with tradition, the 2017 edition will be presented by the parish’s proud parishioners – some 200 people plus, in fact – who Rev. Peter J. Gower says “enjoy grilling sausage and pepper sandwiches and serving everything from pasta to pastries over a four-day stretch and really love making people happy."
While this year’s Feast and Festival will actually begin on Tuesday, Sept. 5 with the Opening Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of La Madonna della Difesa, the 2017 edition will be many things for many people.
As Father Gower announced, “It will be a homecoming for Monsignor Montecalvo.”
The Rev. Monsignor Carlo Montecalvo, who was part of the Our Lady of Grace fabric in past years during his tenure as parish priest, will be the main Celebrant and Homilist for the 10:30 a.m. Mass in honor of La Madonna della DiFesa on Sunday, Sept. 10. The popular OLG priest will serve as Concelebrant and a procession will follow the mass.
“This is going to be a record-setting year for our feast and festival,” Father Gower said. “We have 20 corporate sponsors and that’s a first for our parish. We also have 100 major sponsors; things are gong very nicely here at Our Lady of Grace.”
The major corporate sponsors purchased colorful banners the parish ordered from RhodyPrints that are neatly displayed on OLG’s rod iron fence in front of the Roman Catholic Church located at 4 Lafayette Street.
For food lovers, this year’s Festival will offer creations like tripe and soffrito, linguini with quahogs and even lasagna will be served beginning Thursday evening, Sept. 7 at Festival Field that’s located off Sheridan Street adjacent to the OLG church.
“We’ll also have a 7 o’clock Prayer Service annual Recitation o the Rosary during the Procession on Wednesday [Sept. 6],” the popular priest said. “All our food booths and the carnival with its many rides and games will also be open for four days beginning Sept. 7 and continuing through Sunday, Sept 10.”
The official Feast and Festival hours are: Sept. 7-5 to 9 p.m.; Sept. 8-5 to 11 p.m.; Sept. 9-5 to 11 p.m.; Sept. 10-12 noon to 9 p.m. The OLG priest will serve as Concelebrant and a procession will follow the mass.
Those who like listening to a wide variety of music will be treated like entertainment every evening beginning with Opening Night on Thursday, Sept. 7 when famed Disc Jockey Gary Salzillo spins his music.
The always-popular group Ambrosiani, Better than Me, Timeless and Vini Ames will also lend their talents to the 2017 event that promises to be one of OLG’s best-ever fun and food fests in the parish’s history.
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