Faith and community

Excitement is building for the century-old Our Lady of Grace Church Italian Feast and Festival, held in honor of La Madonna della DiFesa.

Although activity at Festival Field – located off Sheridan Street adjacent to the Roman Catholic parish – won’t begin until next Thursday, Sept. 10, the celebration will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8, with an opening Mass at 7 p.m. inside the church.

“The opening Mass is in celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of ‘La Madonna della DiFesa,’” said Joanne Burley, the 2015 Feast and Festival co-chair. “The Rev. Peter J. Gower, our pastor, will conduct the Mass.”

Burley also announced that on Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Very Rev. TJ Varghese will be the homilist during an evening of prayer in honor of La Madonnna della DiFesa entitled “Celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy.”

The celebration will include a benediction, Litany of Mary and a candlelight procession with recitation of the Rosary.

Thursday evening, Sept. 10, will be the first of four exciting nights that will feature fine food, fun and what event co-chair Joe Quartino called “extraordinary entertainment,” beginning at Festival Field at 5 p.m.

In keeping with tradition, admission to all events will again be free.

“We’ve got an interesting lineup this year,” Quartino said while of the entertainment. “Ambrosiani, Tribeca, Steve Cass and The Fabulous Calamari brothers will all be here performing under the Big Top. And we’ll hold all events rain or shine.”

Meanwhile, Quartino emphasized the event “will again feature some of the best Italian foods in Rhode Island … All our food is prepared on site and served from the feast buildings that were erected for the sole purpose of this Feast and Festival back in the early 1990s.”

The Beer Garden will also return to the Feast and Festival, and Quartino announced that a grand raffle – with prizes totaling $7,000 – will be drawn on Sunday evening at Festival Field. There will also be what he called a “minor raffle,” and many games and activities will again highlight this year’s event.

Feast and Festival hours have been set for 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. beginning with next Thursday’s opening night. Sunday’s hours will be from noon to 9 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, there will be a procession following the 10:30 a.m. Feast Mass.

Quartino and Burley this week announced that along with the statute of the feast’s patroness, La Madonna della DiFesa – whose origin is Casacalenda, Italy – various parish and local societies will march in this year’s procession.