Everything is ready for the 125th Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church 16th of July Feast, according to the Rev. Henry P. Zinno, Jr., pastor. Like last year, the celebration (the oldest continuous religious feast in the Diocese of Providence) will be a streamlined version of what this feast used to look like in past years when the event was held on the Bristol Town Common under the Big Top.

“Things really worked very well last year,” said Father Zinno, who announced that this year’s celebration will begin on Sunday, July 9, with the Opening Mass at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Chief Marshal’s reception in the Monsignor John W. Lolio Hall until 1:30 p.m.

Father Zinno was exceedingly happy to announce that this year’s Chief Marshal is longtime parishioner Denise Asciolla.

“Denise has forever been active here at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,” he said. “No matter what she is doing, it is always with a generous heart. Years ago, where her son Jason was an Altar Boy, she started scooping ice cream in the Altar Servers booth. Now, in so many ways, she assists the parish with her many abilities. We would be lost without her.”

Denise, herself, was taken back a bit when the announcement was made public that she would be this year’s OLMC Chief Marshal.

“I was totally surprised,” she smiled, “and overwhelmed. My grandfather, Pietro Proto, helped build Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church many years ago. I’m so proud of that. My family is part of this church’s history. I know my mom and dad are smiling down on me from above.”

It was also announced that Nicholas Simeone is this year’s Thomas Vendituoli Award recipient.

“Nick has the best smile in town,” said Father Zinno. “Whether it was under the tent at the feast, kneeling at the altar as an altar boy and MC, or working over a Fryolator for our many fish and chip dinners, Nick is always a hardworking young man and a joy to know. Tom Vendituoli would be so proud of the young man Nick has become.”

Said Nick, “I was totally surprised when they announced that I was this year’s Tom Vendituoli Award winner. I couldn’t be more honored.”

The rest of this year’s OLMC Feast schedule is as follows:

• Triduum of Masses for spiritual preparation for the feast is Monday-Wednesday, July 10-12, at 7 p.m. Mass.
  “The celebrants and homilists will be some of the youngest priests in our Diocese, including the most recent priest ordained, Father Patrick Ryan,” Father Zinno reported.
• Take-Out Thursday, July 13, 4-6 p.m., will feature Father Zinno’s Lasagna, fish & chips and fried fish selections.
• Saturday, July 15, 6 p.m., Macaroni and Meatball dinner, Monsignor Lolio Hall.
• Sunday, July 16, 2 p.m., Living rosary, followed by the procession around the Town Common, and Solemn Benediction in the Church.

“Immediately following will be all the different kinds of Italian foods in the Monsignor Lolio Hall, with raffles, strolling musicians, religious booth table, and much more concluding at 6:30 p.m. with the drawing of all the raffles,” Father Zinno explained.

The bottom line is that this year’s celebration, like all of the others in past years, will have a little bit of something for everyone.