For the people of St. Peter Italian Church, the Casa Italiana is their town square. Far removed, yes, from their hometowns of Bari, Como or Milan, but it is where old friends meet, visit and share stories. Their parish priests, the Scalabrinians (Missionaries of St. Charles), speak their language, share their joys and sorrows, and live their charism as a religious community of brothers and priests whose main work is among migrants and refugees.
The Scalabrinians serve the Italian community of St. Peter's, as well as the Spanish speaking community of San Conrado Mission near Elysian Park. They work with migrants and against the social ills that often lead to migration. Outside the Casa Italiana is inscribed the following monument to the Italian community they serve: "The Italians: A people of poets and artists, of heroes and saints, of thinkers and scientists, of migrants and navigators."
St. Peter boasts a very faithful core of about 400 long-time parishioners who continue to call the parish their home. Frequently the children and grandchildren of Italian immigrants now attend the church. The same "societies" --- San Trifone, Padre Pio and St. Joseph Societies, to name a few --- still exit after 80 years or more. Mini-retreats are held for volunteers. Parishioners take turns cooking and serving the homeless. Prayer groups meet. Special processions such as the one for the feast of the Madonna della Stella are celebrated.
The largest celebration each year takes place on March 19. The people of St. Peter Italian Church have for countless years maintained the old Sicilian tradition of the St. Joseph's Table, and feeding the poor. Parishioners provide food for the St. Joseph's Table --- the pasta, spaghetti sauce, sausages, ingredients for cannelloni and pizza, cookies and cakes, fruits and vegetables, and home-baked bread in the shape of crosses and other Christian symbols.
Mike Foschetti, chairman for the last 12 years (and, like his wife Cecilia, born in Bari, southern Italy), organizes the three-day event with about a 100-150 volunteers. The baking begins about two weeks before, involving all of the parish "societies," and then Mike, Cecilia and Carmela Brianza assemble and decorate the "table" with flowers, candles, baked goods and statues. The table is blessed after Mass and the meal is served.
It was expected that 3,000 would attend this year's St. Joseph's Table, with 1,200 on Sunday alone. All of this work is done to provide, through donations, 120-150 meals a day for the homeless every day but Sunday throughout the year.
It is an enormous task to feed so many homeless. But as Mike explains, "If we don't do it, who will?"
On a regular basis about 400 families come to Mass each Sunday, but many former parishioners come back for special occasions and celebrations. To stay in touch the parish mails a quarterly newsletter to about 2,100 families. About one third of those respond with some sort of offering for the parish.
Scalabrinian Father Raniero Alessandrini, pastor, feels that his parishioners "have found here a welcoming community and a family style. They feel appreciated. And we, as Scalabrinians, are trained to be welcoming people, especially to migrants and those who are not welcome. It is our charism."
He is impressed with how his people feed the homeless and ultimately benefit the church community. "Besides helping the poor, it nourishes a sense of belonging." |