St. Theresa’s Church holds 20th annual, five-day Feast of St. Theresa

St. Theresa’s Church holds 20th annual, five-day Feast of St. Theresa
File Photo

St. Theresa’s Church is once again having it’s Feast of St. Theresa.

The church is touting the 20th annual feast as a time of ‘great food, friendship,and fun.’

This year’s festival, which began on July 20, will run until the Sunday, July 24.

On Sunday, the church will hold Mass at 4 p.m. after which there will be a Devotion of the Blessed Sacrament.

At 4:30 p.m., a traditional Italian Procession Band will begin playing and at 5 p.m. the band will accompany community members during a procession as they walk with the statue of St. Theresa.

After the procession, the marchers will return to the church for a concert.

According to John Greco, a member of the committee tasked with overseeing the festival, the feast was the idea of the church’s former pastor, Fr. Robert Grippo.

Greco said Grippo had a desire to “reach out to members of the community especially during the summer months when the kids are out of school.”

This year’s theme for the feast was ‘Faith, Family, Friends and Fun.’

Greco said he hopes the community gets a sense of fellowship while attending the feast.

“It was always about fellowship,” said Greco.

The five day event has something for all ages as community members will be able to enjoy rides, games, music, food and even a raffle.

On Sunday, attendees who enter the raffle will have a chance to win a new Mercedes GLA 250 SUV.

Each raffle ticket costs $100.

Theresa Martin – the church’s patroness – was born on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France and died on September 30, 1897.

According to her biography, her life was a ‘little way of spiritual childhood.’

She also described herself as the ‘little flower of Jesus’ and roses came to be known as her signature.