Italian Festival unites parish

By Tanya Connor |  The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – Faith and family – blood family and the parish family.
Members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish talked about these treasures – more than the impending demolition of one of their church buildings – at their Italian Festival Sunday. The festival was at Our Lady of Loreto Church, where they now worship.
They applauded Bishop McManus, who celebrated Mass for them, and their pastor, Msgr. F. Stephen Pedone, for whom the bishop expressed support.
As leaders, these men made controversial decisions about closing and demolishing Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on Mulberry Street. Due to safety concerns from structural issues there, worship was moved three years ago to Our Lady of Loreto on Massasoit Road, also an Italian-American parish. The two were formally merged in 2017.    
Each parish used to have its own Italian festival honoring its patroness. This year – Aug. 8-11 – the parish held its second joint festival. Bishop McManus blessed statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto, which were carried in procession from the church to the festival tent.
“I’m very happy that the parish families have merged, because I know that the Blessed Mother’s church – Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto – is about her Son, and the people that follow him,” Domenic Mercurio said.
“And while I’m very nostalgic and patriotic for my Italian and American heritage and my youth growing up at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I understand that we need to follow the direction and guidance of the bishop and Msgr. Pedone, our shepherds, who will lead us to worship our Lord, toward our salvation.”
Bishop McManus had preached about salvation and  faith passed on to people today by their Italian ancestors.
He recounted the Blessed Mother’s joys and sorrows and said she was the woman of faith they were honoring, whose faith was rewarded by being assumed into heaven to be with her Son.
He concluded with “Amen” and “God bless you” and the congregation responded with the same words. They applauded when Msgr. Pedone thanked the bishop for coming, and when the bishop expressed admiration for the pastor being “the perfect gentleman and priest” during recent difficult times.
“I’m very sad that they’re going to knock down my church – Mount Carmel,” Michael Sacco Sr. said. “I was there … 1947 ’til … when they closed Mount Carmel. … I’m OK now because I’m coming over here. It’s the same priest that was there – Father Pedone.”
David Soares, chairman of the parish council of the merged parish, who belonged to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for 22 years, said, “I think we’ve retained our individual parish traditions. We’ve all become great friends … We’re all working together for the feast, certainly for other endeavors as well. We’re all part of the same faith and that’s what it comes down to.”
“You’ve got to love your faith,” said James Buffone, who came to Our Lady of Loreto as a child and helps where needed.
Mr. Mercurio expressed concern about people not retaining the faith in today’s secular society.
“At the beginning I was shocked that our church had to close,” he said. “My instinct is always to … try to solve the problem.” He said he considered going door-to-door trying to get more people to attend Mass, when he thought insufficient attendance was the only reason for closing the church. And he talked with city councilors to see if they could help, he said.
Eventually he saw he couldn’t solve the problem, and went to Our Lady of Loreto.
“I was so relieved to see friends and cousins of my parents, and I felt so welcomed,” he said. He said his parents, once members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, helped establish Our Lady of Loreto.
“It was like coming home,” Susan Cozzolino said of returning to Our Lady of Loreto. At different points in her life she was part of each parish.
“I think it’s going beautifully,” said Elaine David, who formerly belonged to and worked at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but attended weekday Mass at Our Lady of Loreto. “I’ve known half of them anyway.”
“It was an adjustment for both churches,” said Joseph Sama, from Our Lady of Loreto. “Once they came over – there were many that did not come – but the ones that did … we got through it. … We’re one parish now.”
The festival helped bring people together and make the parish stronger, said Elaine Beaudry, festival chairwoman, who grew up at Our Lady of Loreto. She said neighbors who aren’t parishioners expressed appreciation for the festival returning to the neighborhood. This was second time the merged parishes held the Italian festival; Our Lady of Loreto last had its own in 2005, she said.
“My husband was the pasta king” at the festival for years, Florence Murgo said of Anthony Murgo, who died last September. “My son Tony Jr. is frying the dough.” (Mrs. Murgo said her husband also helped with Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s festival.)
Mary DiSilvestro, once active at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, said most of the banners hanging in the tent were new this year; she made them with help from Sandra Penny and Michele Grangrande.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel first displayed banners at its festival in 1982, Mrs. DiSilvestro said; she made 92 for advertisers. The banners were reused and new ones made as companies ordered them.
Mrs. DiSilvestro said she made the banner welcoming Bishop McManus when he became the diocese’s bishop. It was was displayed this year at the festival.
She said she also restored statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The one carried in processions at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and at the merged parish is displayed in the parish center chapel, she said.
Msgr. Pedone said another statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel from the old church will be displayed behind the altar with a statue of Our Lady of Loreto and the Trinity window from Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s choir loft.


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