With more than 100 years of tradition behind it, there was some concern that the annual Holy Angels Church Feast of the Assumption wouldn’t have the appeal once it was decided to forego its conventional carnival-type celebration in favor of a more relaxed, food festival inside the church hall. 

Those apprehensions were quickly put to rest last year with the first annual Italian Food Festival, which turned out to be a great success.

“We used to have the outdoor summer festival,” said festival public relations chairman Shawn DeHart, “and naturally, the parish community fondly reminisces about that because it was a wonderful tradition of ours for so long. Last year, it was time to revamp it. We got a lot of positive feedback, and now, the committee is working to make the Italian Food Festival an enjoyable and successful event once again.”

He added, “Clara DeSpirito, longtime parishioner, used to enjoy making doughboys for the festival when it was held outside. Those were always popular. Even though we can’t do doughboys anymore, Barbara St. Angelo and her kitchen crew are planning to still offer a lot of delicious, homemade food.”

Even in the old days, delicious Italian food was always the staple of this August weekend celebration. Nothing has changed in that respect.

This year, the Italian Food Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, from 5 to 9 p.m., in the air-conditioned, fully-accessible church hall, at 341 Maple Ave.

“This will be a very enjoyable evening,” said Mr. DeHart. “The public is cordially welcomed and encouraged to come take part in the festivities.”

Former Holy Angels Feast of the Assumption Outdoor Summer Festival chairman and current committee member, Barbara St. Angelo, said she’s expecting another great turnout this year. 

“Last year’s attendance at the first Italian Food Festival was better than expected,” she said. “We’ll have more great food this year, including a surprise dessert or two.”

The Italian-American foods (dine-in or take-out) that will be available are at family-friendly prices and will include pizza, baked macaroni, meatballs, pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans), sausage and peppers, eggplant parmigiana, stuffed calzones, and fried mozzarella sticks. American food favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs will also be available, along with soft drinks, beer, wine, and an array of tempting desserts.

There will also be a “Big Money” Summer Raffle with jackpot prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250. Raffle tickets cost $40 each and are available now. Please call Barbara St. Angelo at (401) 245-4707. A feature raffle will include jackpot prizes of $500, $100, $100, and $50. Books of six are available and cost $5 per book. Please call Judy Pine at (401) 247-0212.

The winning tickets for the Big Money Summer Raffle and Feature Raffle will be drawn at the Italian Food Festival.

Another highlight of the Festival will be the “Pick-Your-Prize Raffle.” Prizes include Dooney & Bourke satchel, STING concert tickets for his September performance in Boston (donated by radio station Magic 106.7), Amazon Fire HD tablet with “Alexa,” (donated by the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, LTD), an Italian Food Basket (donated by the Italo-American Club of Rhode Island), a golf foursome at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Burrillville, and a golf foursome at Montaup Country Club in Portsmouth.

There will also be a La Gondola Providence gondola trip, Seekonk Speedway tickets, Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant tickets, Story Land Amusement Park tickets, one-month family membership at the Bayside YMCA, one-year AAA basic membership and AAA gift bag, Rod’s Grille gift certificate, Pane e Vino gift certificate, Dave & Buster’s gift certificate, United Skates of America admission tickets, and Children’s Novelty items.

For full details, visit: www.holyangelsevent.com.

Feast continues

The celebration doesn’t end with the Italian Food Festival. 

The solemn religious aspect of the Feast continues with a Mass commemorating the Feast of the Assumption, which will be celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a neighborhood procession, a long-time tradition that began with the original forefathers of the parish. The procession commences from the church parking lot, and proceeds west on Maple Avenue, north onto Barrington Avenue, east onto Roffee Street, to South Street, and returns to the church for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. 

"Our Blessed mother has always had a special place in the hearts of the parishioners of Holy Angels,” Mr. DeHart explained. “Indeed, a statue of her was purchased for the first church even before the church was built. Each year, the Parish celebrates its founding on the weekend closest to the Solemnity of Our Lady's Assumption (Aug. 15). Although the nature of the festivities has greatly changed, the Parish Feast remains an important social and cultural event for the Parish.”

He concluded, “The statue of the Blessed Mother has not been included in the procession since 2014. It was restored last year for the parish's centennial anniversary, and now to keep it protected from the elements, we keep it indoors (in the church). A large photo of the statue, blown up to poster size and encased in a frame, is in the procession.”