Mass in Italian revived

The special liturgy, celebrated in Italian, was the brainchild of Rev. Marcellinus Borg, OFM, associate pastor. He was assigned to St. Anthony's years ago; when he returned last year, he recalled the parish's Italian heritage and decided to promote it.

Located in the heart of Troy, St. Anthony's now has more Hispanic parishioners than Italian ones and serves a community in flux. But Father Borg believed he could pull Italians from the area together to celebrate their roots. He circulated a flyer in Italian and English around the area, and wrote to clubs and organizations with large Italian populations.

Many people told him, "I don't speak Italian any more," "I only speak a dialect" or "My mom and dad spoke [Italian], but I do not." Father Borg said it took hundreds of calls, and "much energy and imagination" to meet everyone's needs.

The priest also tackled finding resources in Italian. Just tracking down an organist "took 25 or 30 phone calls," he said. He called around and found a lectionary (the book the priest uses in celebrating Mass) to borrow from St. Anthony's parish in Schenectady.

In the end, Mass-goers filled half the church, despite the onset of a winter storm that could have kept many away and the fact that the Mass was held on a Saturday night. Father Borg was thrilled.

"It was very, very good," he told The Evangelist proudly. "We had a singer and everything! People want the Mass again."

The priest said that while he hopes to bring back the tradition again, he also has other ideas in mind: for one thing, trying to assemble children for a Christmas pageant. He noted that since the parish isn't connected to a school and doesn't have a religious education program, it's hard to find children to play the roles of the Holy Family. But if that idea doesn't work out, there are always others.

"I'm going to try," he said. "You have to get around to families. I have a lot of hope."

(12-05-02) [[In-content Ad]]