Corned beef and cavatelli offered side-by-side to fete two saints

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It was an eclectic Staten Island celebration of two saints featured in a feast. This weekend, parishioners of St. Joseph-St. Thomas-St. John Neumann celebrated both St. Patrick and St. Joseph with both Irish and Italian fare.

St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's Day — From left to right: Sharoma, Kathy, Anna and Nancy. (Courtesy of Jack DiDonato)Jack DiDonato

“Our parish wanted to honor two great saints — Joseph and Patrick, while at the same time celebrate our Italian-Irish heritage,” said the Pleasant Plains pastor, Father Eric Rapaglia.

He added, “Faith and fun, corned beef and cavatelli, soda bread and sfingi — we had a great time, praise the Lord!”

Congregant Gina Duval led her family and a group of volunteers called “The Core Team” in planning and organizing the event. Bario’s catered the affair for about 200 guests. (The New Springville caterer will reopen to the public later this month after rebuilding from a fire.)

Attendee Jack and Anna DiDonato enthused, “Everybody had a fantastic time. Food is always a wonderful way to bring people together. And it was great to fuse the two cultures together during Lent. It really puts you in the spirit of the season.”

The church will follow up on the St. Joe’s aspect with Masses today, March 19, the actual feast day of St. Joseph the Worker.

There will be four services — 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., at St. Thomas at 6097 Amboy Rd.; 9 a.m. at St. Joseph at 16 Poplar Ave.; and 5 p.m. as a bilingual Italian and English mass at St. Thomas at 6097 Amboy Rd. with celebrant Fr. Eric. The latter celebration includes a special bread donated by Il Panettiere Bakery in Tottenville. The loaves will be baked into shepherd staffs.

Here are some scenes from the celebration.