Holy Rosary Church celebrates 113^th Italian Festival in Downtown JC

By Sally Deering

August nights are a time to celebrate when La Festa Italiana, the Old World Italian Street Festival hosted by Holy Rosary Church turns Historic Downtown Jersey City into five summer nights of music, dancing, food and fun!

La Festa Italiana 2016 begins Wed, Aug. 10, and continues through Sun, Aug. 14, on Sixth & Brunswick Streets. On these five summer nights, the neighborhood surrounding Holy Rosary Church will come alive with rocking dance music, games of chance, kids†activities, and a wide-array of delicious foods and libations. La Festa Italiana runs from 5 pm-11 pm Wednesday-to-Friday, and 3 pm-11 pm Saturday & Sunday. The last night (Sunday) at 11 pm, the “Super 50/50” Raffle winner will be chosen. Last yearâ€s ticket-holder won over $10,200.

La Festa Italiana honors the veneration of Maria SS. Dellâ€Assunta & San Rocco, and offers the Downtown community the opportunity to party with its neighbors. This yearâ€s La Festa Italiana features live bands, fun for the kids, food and souvenir vendors and Italian delicacies made by Holy Rosary Church parishioners like Fresh Hot Zeppoles, lemony Limoncello and “Our Famous Rice Balls”.

Founded in 1885, Holy Rosary Church is the first Italian Roman Catholic Parish in New Jersey. Pastor of Holy Rosary Church, the Rev. Jerzy (Jurek) Zaslona says La Festa Italiana pays tribute to the churchâ€s 131-year history and strengthens community ties.

“I thoroughly enjoy this five-night feast,” Rev. Zaslona says.  “As a church, we are here to serve the people of Jersey City and La Festa Italiana gives us the opportunity to become a more integrated community.”

La Festa Italiana 2016 has a 5-star line-up of music performed by live bands and music groups, featuring

Wed, Aug 10:               CRAZY 80â€s

Thurs, Aug 11:     LTZ (Less Than Zero)

Fri, Aug 12:                 Matt Colligan & Friends

   Mike Buscio Acoustic (Caffe Italiano)

Sat, Aug 13:     The Cameos

    Party of Five Acapella (Caffe Italiano)                  

   

   

Sun, Aug 14:                Total Soul

 Every night of the festival, on 6^th & Brunswick St., DJ Dan of Blueline Productions will keep the party dancing!

Our sponsors for La Festa Italiana 2016 include Brunswick Center, Tony Ferrara & Associates of Jersey City, Grillo for Council-Nicholas J. Grillo 2017, Dr. Michele J. Dimaira, DMD, MS, PA, Catholic Cemeteries, Panepinto Properties, Commonwealth/Fleetwood, Monteleoneâ€s Bakery, Sorrentino Electric, and Yelp.

This year, La Festa Italiana 2016 will be a “Foodieâ€s Paradise” with vendors like Mayon Grillâ€s Filipino BBQ, Pure ‘n†Simple Flatbreads†coal-fired brick oven pizzas, the Angry Crab food truck serving crab cakes and lobster rolls; and Liege (Belgian) Waffles which will also serve crepes with lots of topping choices, and they have a gluten-free crepe, too. And thereâ€s more, like mouth-watering Italian sausage sandwiches, Greek specialties, and delicious desserts including hand-made cannolis at Caffe Italiano in Holy Rosaryâ€s backyard.

Lots of returning, local food vendors, too, like Gia’s Gelato & Café in Jersey City, which will be selling 26 flavors of Gelato like “Kitty Kitty Bang Bang”, vanilla gelato with Oreo cookies, raspberries and white chocolate. Owners Angela Ratliff and Deb Brackett agree La Festa Italiana has been great for business and offers many opportunities to meet people who eventually become regulars.

“It allows us to be part of the community and reach out to a large number of potential customers,” Brackett says. “When we sell Gelato at La Festa, we talk to so many customers who become aware of all we sell at Giaâ€s down the street.”

Lunaâ€s Bowtique will sell hair products like bows and headbands, and be sure to visit the Radical Wellness tent, where you can purchase essential oils, teas, and energy-therapy products.

“Weâ€ll be bringing a lot of new blends, teas, oils, and energy balancing bracelets, which were a big hit last year,” owner Jimmy Benito says. “At La Festa, we meet a lot of new people and build relationships with them.”

This is the 8^th year Jason Gitlin, owner of Delenioâ€s will be selling his delicious Brooklyn-style pizzas (thin crust) with fresh homemade Mozzarella, meatball sliders, clams and mussels.

“La Festa is a good experience and a great way to make new friends,” Gitlin says. “The people at Holy Rosary are really good people. I have a photograph from 1921 in my restaurant. Itâ€s the same festival. All the people and police are lined up on 6^th Street. La Festa is a long-running tradition thatâ€s great for the neighborhood.”

Lucky Honey Bee is a full-range of natural bee products that will again be sold at this yearâ€s La Festa Italiana. Other ‘stars†of the festival are the Hourly 50/50s, and the popular Money Wheel.

On Sat, Aug. 13, church parishioners who are Ferris High School alumni can meet at the Parish Center for the 7^th annual Ferris High School Reunion & Caffe Italiano, where Michael Buscio Acoustic and Party of Five Doo Wop will be entertaining. Both Buscio and Party of Fiveâ€s Joe Calamito are sons of Holy Rosary Church.

Religious traditions are another important highlight of La Festa Italiana 2016.

A Novena will be celebrated for nine days from August 6-14, in veneration to Our Lady of Assumption.

On Mon., Aug. 15, at 11 am, the Assumption Feast Day Mass, in veneration to Maria SS. Dell’Assunta will be celebrated. At this Mass, we will celebrate the memory of Most Rev. Thomas A. Donato, a son and dear friend of Holy Rosary Church. The Most Rev. John W. Flesey, a long-time friend of Bishop Donato is the Celebrant.

On Tues., Aug 16, at 11 am, the St. Rocco Feast Day Mass will be celebrated.

La Festa Italiana is Holy Rosary Churchâ€s special way of saying thank you to its parishioners and neighbors, as it celebrates 131 years of serving the spiritual needs of its parish and the Historic Downtown Jersey City community. For many years, La Festa Italiana has been the churchâ€s biggest fundraiser for the restoration and upkeep of the church. During La Festa Italiana 2016, the church will be open for visitors to see up close the magnificent beauty that is Holy Rosary Church. Visitors are also welcome to donate a 7-day Memorial Candle in memory of a loved-one.

“Traditions and customs define us as a community,” Rev. Zaslona says. “As a country we have traditions and customs that are recognized and embraced by those who come here; the same with our traditions as a church.  People like to become part of established traditions, therefore, it is important to cultivate and cherish these traditions for generations to come.”

If you go

Wed, Thurs, Fri, Aug. 10, 11, 12 from 5 pm-11 pm

Sat & Sun, Aug. 13 & 14, 3 pm-11 pm

La Festa Italiana 2016

Sixth & Brunswick Streets, JC

(201) 795-0120

www.lafestaitalianajc.com

www.Facebook.com/lafestaitalianajc

The post EAT, PRAY, LOVE…  La Festa Italiana 2016 promises Fun, Dancing and Great Food first appeared on River View Observer.

(JERSEY CITY) On Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1 pm, Jersey City will honor its rich Italian heritage when the Columbus Day Parade kicks off on 6^th Street & Newark Avenue and marches east to Jersey Avenue and then south to City Hall.

This yearâ€s event, re-established by the Dante Alighieri Society of Jersey City marks the 5^th year the Columbus Day Parade will take place in one of Jersey Cityâ€s most established Italian-American neighborhoods that includes Holy Rosary Church, the oldest Italian parish in New Jersey. Nicholas J. Grillo, President of the and a congregant at Holy Rosary Church says the parade this year is bigger and better than ever.

“The Jersey City Columbus Day Parade will have some terrific bands and civic groups,” Grillo say. “We are grateful to our supporters who, every year, help us honor those Italian-Americans who work hard every day to enrich our Italian-American heritage and the quality-of-life in our community.”

Every year, the parade honors local Italian-American movers and shakers and some honorary Italian Americans, too. This yearâ€s honorees are Grand Marshall, Dr. Ignatius Scalia, D.M.D; Deputy Grand Marshall Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano; Italian Woman of the Year Maria T. Maio-Messano; Italian Man of the Year Louis Tiscornia; Italian Police Officer of the Year Christopher Viera; Italian Firefighter of the Year Constance Zappella; Italian Businessman of the Year Joseph Napolitano, Jr.; Honorary Italian Woman of the Year Candice Osborne; Honorary Italian Man of the Year Rev. “Jerzy” Zaslona, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church; and Miss Columbus Gina Nicole Gonzalez.

Grand Marshall Dr. Ignatius Scalia, D.M.D. was born and raised in the Marion section of Jersey City after his parents Antonio and Caterina emigrated from Italy; Caterina working as a seamstress and Antonio as a Master Barber in his own shop in Journal Square. Scalia – who earned a barberâ€s license and worked with his dad at his barber shop – went on to earn a degree at St. Peterâ€s College in 1985 and then graduated from the UMDNJ Dental School in Newark.  He held a General Practice Residency at the Jersey City Medical Center, a four-year Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Residency, and earned two Board Certifications before opening his dental practice, which happens to be across the street from his dadâ€s barbershop. Dr. Scalia has additional dental practices in Hoboken, Westfield, Perth Amboy and Union City and is currently Clinical Assistant Professor at Jersey City Medical Center and for the past two years, President of the Medical/Dental staff.  Dr. Scalia still cares about the city where he was born and raised, he says.

“I am truly honored to celebrate my Italian heritage in this wonderful city where I was born, educated and continue to work,” Dr. Scalia says, “and I am humbled to be chosen Grand Marshall of the Jersey City Columbus Day Parade. Marching in the parade with the other honorees on October 12th will be a highlight and fond memory.”

 The Line of March will include local dignitaries Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise and Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Waterman. Marching bands like the Red Mike Festival Band; the American Celts Pipe & Drums; and the Hampton Pipes & Drums will also participate, along with members of the Jersey City Police and Fire Departments. The All Star Cheerleaders; Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; Dante Alighieri Society of Jersey City and members of the University Club are just a short-list of the more than 30 groups and organizations also participating.

 Friends and family of the Jersey City Columbus Day Parade Honorees will likely be lining up at the parade to support their local heroes. There’s no doubt Italian Firefighter of the Year Constance Zappella will be hearing lots of cheers from the crowd. Born and raised in Jersey City, Zappella says she is a proud product of the Jersey City school system. A graduate of McNair Academic High School, Zappella went on to study at St. Peter’s College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in both Economics and Sociology. In 2011, she became the first woman in the Jersey City Fire Department to be promoted to Captain. She is currently working on a Fire Science degree at New Jersey City University.

 “It is a great honor to be recognized as the Jersey City Columbus Day Italian American Firefighter of the Year,” Captain Zappella says. “I’d like to acknowledge all the hard-working Italian Americans, past and present, who have contributed to building Jersey City into the great place it is to live and work today.”

 The Jersey City Columbus Day Parade, now in its 5th year, continues to be a great tradition and has held up longer than Hoboken and Bayonne, which cancelled their Columbus Day Parades this year.

“In years past, we have seen our neighboring cities†Columbus Day events canceled,” Jersey City Columbus Day Parade committee president Grillo says. “Maybe now is the time to start planning a county-wide parade.”

For more info, please visit the JC Columbus Day Parade on Facebook:  http://columbusparadejc.org

All media are invited to cover the event; for interviews, please contact PR rep Sally Deering at 201-667-3636.

 

The post JERSEY CITY COLUMBUS DAY PARADE STEPS OFF SAT, OCT. 12 AT 1 PM first appeared on River View Observer.