SHSS Celebrates First Annual Block Party

There was so much rain during the first block party we ever had when I was growing up on DeGraw Street that my Uncle Wee Wee (yes, that was his name) spent the better part of the day sitting in the vestibule with about a dozen loaves of Frank Sinatra bread.  The weather eventually cleared and we had a great time barbecuing, playing games, and sharing dishes. We made sausages and Italian potato salad and our neighbors, the Sanchez family, made paella.

Yesterday, the parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary/St. Stephen’s Church held their first annual block party and I can tell you there was not one drop of rain. What there was instead was nonstop food, fun, and music. With Summit Street closed between Hicks and Henry Streets, the front of the church was transformed into, as church administrator, RoseMarie Foglia described, Piazza San Stefano.

The entire parish was invited and all were encouraged to bring a dish that could be shared. These dishes included summer salads, corn on the cob, baked beans, empanadas, and zucchini bread. The grill was manned for most of the day by three grill masters, Anthony Troiano, Eddie Rivera, and Joe Igneri, who flipped burgers and cooked hotdogs and sausage for a steady stream of hungry parishioners and neighbors. 

There were old faces, new faces, lots of young people and young-at-heart people. The adults listened and danced to music provided by  DJ Frank. They were also serenaded with some lovely Italian standards sung a cappella by Mr. Phil. Raffles were sold for beautiful theme baskets. The kids enjoyed a bouncy castle, a water slide, and face painting.

There was also a brand new game, never seen at any party before, called Pin the Sash on the Monsignor. Created by Faith & Formation Committee members Roe Foglia, Joe Cerato, and LouAnne Manus, it featured a poster board of a broadly smiling Monsignor Guy Massie, resplendent in his black and purple cassock, standing before a bucolic background. Much funnier than your typical Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

The block party happened to coincide with the one year anniversary of Msgr.  Massie's arrival at SHSS parish and, so, the very talented Carmela Pipitone baked a spectacular cake to mark the occasion. The cake depicted the facade of the church, complete with the clock tower and a miniature Monsignor standing in front. On the base of the cake were the words that Monsignor often repeats to his congregation: "We are the church."

I discovered a few things at our parish block party. Firstly, Msgr. Massie can dance! Secondly, I can actually have a great time outside, even if the temperature is a sweltering 90+ degrees! And, finally, I realized that our parish is more vibrant than ever, a real community full of magnanimous, fun-loving people with a great sense of camaraderie. The whole event was put together by John Heyer, Jr. and Moira and Anthony Camarda but it wouldn't have been possible without the help and generosity of everyone else involved. I can't wait for the Second Annual SHSS Block Party, come rain or come shine.