A local church will host the annual Feast of St. Anthony of Padua this weekend, with plans for a procession, religious services and a festival.
“It is a feast that is huge in Italy and also in New York City among Italian immigrants and their families,” said the Rev. Alberto Tamayo, pastor of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. “Our parish was founded by Italian immigrants almost a hundred years ago, and we are finally bringing this traditional celebration to our community.”
The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. June 13 with a prayer and blessing at St. James School on Peters Place. At 10:30 a.m., the procession will begin to St. Anthony Church, with the Society of St. Anthony and various Italian clubs and organizations taking part.
In keeping with Italian tradition, leading the procession will be a group carrying a statue of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of the church. When the procession reaches the church on Bridge Avenue, there will a Mass celebrated in three languages — English, Italian and Spanish — reflecting the diversity of the Red Bank community.
Following the Mass, there will a street fair on Herbert Avenue from noon to 4 p.m. The street fair will include food, a DJ, country fair game, an Italian street band, bocce ball, horseshoe games, a puppet show and glitter tattoo stations.
“The hope is to bring together our community with the Red Bank community,” said Roxanne LaMont, director of ministry.
The event is held in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. Born in the late 12th century as Fernando Martins de Bulhoes in Lisbon, Portugal, Saint Anthony of Padua was a friar of the Franciscan Order. He died in Padua, Italy, and is known as the patron saint of fishermen and the elderly.
His feast day, June 13, is celebrated by many groups in the United States, including the Italian-American community.
For the street fair, tickets will cost $8 for adults and $5 for children; those under age 5 will attend free.
Families of four will have tickets available to them for $25.