In Hope Valley, it's the wearin' o' the green and red

Posted

HOPE VALLEY - The fourth annual St. Joseph's Day Dinner at St. Joseph Church may have featured an Italian menu on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, but the Irish were not ignored. Green sweaters, shamrocks and Irish pins were in evidence throughout the crowd. Most would say the Italian/Irish mix was all a matter of timing because the dinner, which raised $839 for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, is traditionally held on the Saturday night closest to St. Joseph's Day. And, since St. Joseph's Day is celebrated on March 19, move over, St. Patrick.

Once again Tony Palasciano took charge of the kitchen in the parish hall, coaching other members of the Knights of Columbus, as they prepared the meal. But, each year, fewer instructions are needed as the chef and his crew move from task to task with a minimum of confusion. Barbara Murphy, mistress of ceremonies and a member of the Rosary Altar Society presented Palasciano with a special chef's hat and apron, thanking him for his efforts the past four years.

For the fourth year, the Rosary Altar Society joined forces with the Knights to make the dinner a success. The Knights bought and prepared the feast, donating the money they spent, while Rosary Altar members sold tickets three weekends after Masses at the church and assisted with baking the desserts and setting up the parish hall.

Other parishioner volunteers were Janice Moon, Chris Bennett, Stacy LeHerissier, Jill-Ann Kohlman, Douglas Munroe and members of the Youth Group. The Youth Group volunteers included Tim Pare, Ethan Richards, Haley and Hannah Duscha, Elizabeth-Ann and Thomas Viscione, Lindsay Fortier and Christina Mather.

(This article originally appeared in The Providence Journal)