OLG tailgate party a divine time

Johnston Sun Rise ·

Tailgating, so reads many dictionary definitions, is described as “a social gathering at which an informal meal is served from the back of a parked vehicle.”

Sunday, the proud parishioners at Our Lady of Grace Church took that definition to a greater height.

Although were dozens of vehicles parked on the parish grounds as well as Festival Field, Fioretti Hall was turned into a stadium scene, replete a huge television and smorgasbord of food that could have easily fed the combined forces of the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

It was yet another chapter in the Roman Catholic Church’s history, headed by Rev. Peter J. Gower that again upheld a tradition of combining faith, fellowship and food for football fanatics who wanted to watch the Patriots-Jets NFL game that was telecast live from New York.

“This is vintage OLG,” said Joe Grasso, a devout parishioner and long-time supporter of the Johnston parish. “This entire place is set up just like as if we were at the stadium.”

There were banners everywhere inside Fioretti Hall, from a colorful red, white and blue sign creation “Our Lady of Grace Church … Welcome to our Tailgate Party” to all kinds of football graphics and even a host of raffle prizes, and autographed Tom Brady memorabilia,

“We had over 120 people attending this great social event,” Father Gower said. “It was amazing to see the range of ages from the Micheletti family with four boys ages 2 through 13 to Julie Rotondo at 98 years. This sporting event brought so many people of the parish together with such a cross-section of the community.”

Father Gower also wanted it known that many people throughout the Johnston community were involved and made special donations of different foods.

“It is all about bringing friends together and getting to know other people in the parish seated next to you,” Father Gower said while talking about the stadium-like seating and long banquet tables covered with football printed themes. “This is the simple joy of having a beer with fellow parishioners.”

The brains behind Sunday’s tailgate party, Father Gower told people time and again, “was the Andreozzis – Joe and Joan – who sold tickets as people entered Fioretti Hall, secured prizes and sponsors for the multi-prize raffles and did so much, more to make this an overwhelming success.”

Father Gower also said that places like The Bridge at Cherry Hill, which was represented by Marketing Director Jen Burns and Executive Chef Marvin Carter, donated special food items as did Cherry Hill Manor, DiStefano’s Bakery, Marilyn wings, Connie’s apple crisp and even Tony’s Pizza.

Add to that group items like a special garden salad, calzones, the Pastor’s meatballs and pasta and Joe Q’s (Quartino) lasagna and it’s a sure bet that no one went home hungry.

Ray Ouellette, who held ticket number 1160c, won the official NFL football that was autographed by Tom Brady.

Finally, JJ Duffy Funeral Home in Cumberland supplied the Audio Visual so, as Father Gower said, “we could watch the football game and thank God the Patriots pulled it out.”