'Another level': OLG rings in 50th anniversary

Posted

There were a number of historic happenings last Wednesday night inside Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in Johnston.

It was, as the Rev. Peter J. Gower said, a “celebration to remember, with over 550 people in attendance as we gave thanks and praise to God for the gift of this special house of worship.”

Moreover, as Gower said while accepting congratulations from proud parishioners and their guests: “Together as a parish family we celebrated our 50th anniversary of Our Lady of Grace Church, and we all thanked God for the gift of this moment; it was a time of grace and love. A new chapter of faith unfolds and another piece of the mosaic of our parish family falls into place.”

The festivities were complete with a blessing for the 50th anniversary of the church building and famous Ruffati organ that was installed a half-century ago.

Back on March 10, 1956, the Rev. Jerome S. Fioretti became administrator of Our Lady of Grace Church, and on Oct. 8, 1968, he became pastor.

“Under Father Fioretti’s guidance, plans were formulated and the church as it now stands was erected, and it was actually dedicated on Sunday, June 29, 1969,” Gower told the Sun Rise. “Tonight, Sept. 4, 2019, we gathered and all the parish came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our beautiful church building.”

The Mass, though, as people like Julio Rotondo – who’ll become a centenarian in December –his sister, 104-year-old sister Emma Pezza, and longtime parishioner Joe Grasso will readily attest, may have been one of the proudest moments in Our Lady of Grace history.

“Father Gower always does things in a big way,” Grasso said of the “beautiful and music-filled Mass” and cocktail party that followed under the “Big Top” that housed last weekend’s 91st Feast and Festival. “He has really taken this parish to another level.”

As noted, last Wednesday’s event was filled with the sounds of the Ruffati organ, played by the multitalented organist and choir director Patrick Aiken, and a total of 10 musicians who either sang solos or played instruments like the bass, violin and cello.

“The Ruffati organ was installed 50 years ago, also under the leadership of Father Fioretti,” Gower said. “In the late 1950s, an organ committee was assembled and spent several years searching for an instrument suitable to the church’s needs. After much deliberation, the committee felt that God had answered their prayer in leading them to an instrument made by the company Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy.”

Thus, as Gower continued: “By its tonal magnitude, visual aesthetics and economic feasibility, it met all the musical requirements of the church ministry, and we’re honored to bless and celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Ruffati organ tonight.”

Despite a slight rain, which quickly subsided, a post-Mass candlelight procession was held. It was followed by what people called “the cocktail part of the year,” replete with an array of appetizers made by Marvin Carter, executive chef at The Bridge at Cherry Hill.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here