OLG supper benefits entire community

Johnston Sun Rise ·

The proud parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Church turned back the hands of time in a unique and unmatched manner Saturday night.

While fun, food and fellowship have always been the trademarks of any and all OLG social events, Saturday’s sold out old-fashioned Ham & Bean Supper was reminiscent of yesteryear when churches, granges, volunteer fire departments and even fraternal organizations used the event as a community activity.

The tradition of having a ham and bean supper was of the utmost importance at the Johnston-based Roman Catholic parish, simply because proceeds were used to help the poor and needy, especially during Thanksgiving, when the OLG Men’s Club launched those delicious dinners many years ago.

Saturday’s supper, which was hosted by OLG’s Holy Name Society and prepared by the parish’s classic chefs Joe Quartino, Carol Cambio, Connie and Al Colannino, was yet another example the social ministry that Rev. Peter J. Gower as brought to its highest level during his tenure at the parish rector.

“The Holy Name Society has organized the distribution of Thanksgiving baskets to those in need on the weekend before Thanksgiving Day,” Father Gower explained. “Last year, over 60 baskets were distributed to families in Johnston and surrounding areas.”

Father Gower, who takes pride in each and every event that brings parishioners together for special events, said, “Family names of those needy people are provided to our parish office and for that we’re able to help dozens of people at Thanksgiving.”

The popular OLG priest, who is a known New England Patriots fan, further noted that volunteers that have distributed the baskets to the recipients have departed the event with a sense of fulfillment, joyful smiles, uplifted spirits and tears of satisfaction of making a difference in someone else’s life.

While Saturday’s supper, which featured upwards of 200 people filling every possible seat inside Fioretti Hall, will go a long way in filling OLG’s annual Thanksgiving Baskets, the menu that included ham, beans, macaroni and cheese and cole slaw more than pleased people’s palates.

“Everybody is saying what a delicious dinner this was,” Jack DiIorio, a member of OLG’s Holy Name Society, said. “The ham was excellent and the beans as good as you’ve ever tasted.”

The same held true for the macaroni and cheese and cole slaw, which the “Four Amigos” as Quartino called his unique and tireless kitchen crew, prepared from scratch with a dash of OLG’s special ingredients.

People of all ages raved about the quality of the dinner and couldn’t believe the number of raffle prizes that members of the Holy Name Society secured to further boost the coffers of Saturday’s supper.

Organizers placed a printed sign in front of several displays of raffle items that read: “Prizes Galore.”

“That’s the way this parish does everything,” Tom Kowal, a proud parishioner at OLG, said. “Father Peter (Gower) likes to do things super and special.”

Few people, if any, would dispute that theory, especially after enjoying a super supper that put smiles on a lot of people’s faces.

Father Gower, in a message to Holy Name members, said: “On behalf of everyone at OLG I want to thank the very special men of the Holy Name Society who help us throughout the year. Your dedication to the organization has been invaluable! I cannot thank you enough for your time, talent and kindness. To each and every one of you – I just have to say thank you!”