Some words/testimonials from
Members of our Feast Committee and Friends:
We would love to share your personal stories and memories of either why you enjoy coming to the feast or why you spend so much time and effort each year to work on this spectacular event. Please drop us a note or email to share your personal story, we would love to hear from you!
The following speech is from Lou Aurrichio, Coordinator, St. Theresa Feast Committee – May 8, 2005.
My name is Lou Aurrichio and I am the coordinator of your feast committee. I represent a committee of 30 and a total volunteer force of about 300. As I look around the Church today, I see quite a few of those individuals sitting here. I would like to thank all of you for the work that you do for our Feast. Without your efforts, it could not possibly be the success that it is. Even as I stand here now, there are fellow parishioners outside of the Church accepting raffle tickets and showing the (grand prize) car. You’ll also find as you leave Church today, posters of our first eight feasts. Those pictures have been done each and every year by Mark Riglioso, a fellow parishioner.
I’d also like to take a minute to thank those of you that live on the blocks that surround the Feast. We apologize for the inconveniences that we put you through during the week in July, but as many of you have told us, the positive effects of our Feast surely outweigh those nuisances.
This year our Feast will be held from July 20th to the 24th. By now, most of you should have received raffle tickets in the mail. It is usually about this time of year that we start to ask you to return your raffle tickets, buy advance ride tickets, or sign up to volunteer for the Feast. And pretty soon you will hear us say that, because the success of those functions is vital to the overall success of our feast. However, this year the committee has decided to add a little something different. They would like to share with you the reasons why they do the things that they do when it comes to organizing this event. Why some of them use up their vacation time to put your Feast in motion. Why one individual donates his entire workforce to the Feast for eight days. You will hear why so many of our senior parishioners continue to pour their hearts and souls into our parish and what this Feast means to them and our community. So, over the next few weeks, a couple of them will be addressing you and telling of their thoughts and feelings.
My recollection of Feasts goes back to when I was a kid going to the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 115th Street in Manhattan. Each year we would drive down to the old neighborhood. My cousin Annmarie would get a doll on a stick and I would always get a pirate’s sword. My mother would go straight to the torrone stand. And my father, he had to have sausage and peppers and then pizza at Patsy’s. At every step of the way, we would stop and say hello to a family friend. But the things I remember most were the procession of the statue in the streets and the magnitude and beauty of that Church. I identified the Feast with the Church. And I hope that is what my efforts here at our Feast do for you, for your kids, and for our entire community -- Identify our Feast with the Lord.
These days at our Feast, when I start to tire, I go and sit in the area in front of the Church where the raffle tickets are being sold, and I watch you walk by. Three years ago a young couple walked up to me and thanked us for bringing them together. They met at our second annual feast and had recently married. This past year as I was sitting there they approached once again. Behind them were their 4 parents pushing a baby carriage. I was introduced to their daughter and 4 or the happiest grandparents you will ever meet.
As I sit there each night my greatest thrill is watching the “OH MY GODS” walk by. I’m sure many of you do not know who they are so I’ll explain. The “OH MY GODS” are you... You and your family are walking west on St. Theresa Avenue, and another family is walking east. One adult from each group makes eye contact and then it begins.
OH MY GOD!!!! NANCY, IS THAT YOU???? And the reply “OH MY GOD JOAN!!! HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? IS THAT YOUR FAMILY?” For the rest of the night, the two families walk up and down the Feast together. It usually ends with the pulling out of the cell phones, the exchange of phone numbers, and “I’LL CALL YOU NEXT WEEK.” THE “OH MY GODS.” As I mentioned previously, over the next couple of weeks, other individuals will stand here and tell you of their experiences at our Feast. And yes, then we will ask you to buy raffle tickets and ask you to volunteer to help. Because without your support, nothing of what I told you or what they tell you can happen!
Mahatma Gandhi was once asked – “Where is the best place to find oneself?” His reply was – “Find yourself in the service of others.” Our Feast is not just a fundraiser. Our feast is about people. US!!! It is about community. OURS!!! It is about God and OUR Church. So don’t be afraid to get involved and help. Please sign up when we start to ask for volunteers. Buy a raffle ticket or help us simply by networking them with co-workers and friends. Because you will, like many of the people that get involved with our Feast, find yourself in the service of others.
Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day.
Lou Aurrichio