St. Bart’s celebration hopes to reconnect parishioners

NORWICH – The parishioners of St. Bartholomew’s Church in Norwich are reviving the St. Bartholomew’s Feast Day celebration, a tradition they say annually re-connected the mind and soul back to faith, family, community and church.

“We want to stress the importance of our church’s namesake,” said parishioner Nicholas Testani, who pointed to St. Bartholomew, and explained how his influence in Italy carried on to build a part of Norwich, and the church he worships in today. “We want people to come help us celebrate the feast of our patron Saint, St. Bartholomew.”

The local celebrations for the Feast of St. Bartholomew have been on hiatus for the last three years, due to a lack of volunteers.

Parishioner Jo Ann Testani said that now more than ever, carrying on the faithful vigilance of previous generations – through events such as the feast day – is something that needs to be honored, not only in spirit, but in practice.

“It’s an important part of our heritage,” she said. “This gives you a connection to your past.”

The celebration is open to the public, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 26, in the pavilion area behind the Monsignor Guy Festa Parish Center.

Organizers said that a procession through the old Italian neighborhoods, one of the more meaningful customs of yesteryear, will return as part of this year’s revival.

Tony Caezza, a lifetime parishioner of St. Bart’s, said he hopes that the event can one day re-establish the relationship the church used to have with the entire community, including non-Catholics.

“St. Bart’s came to be a symbol for all people, I think this will be like starting all over again,” said Caezza. “I think that hopefully it will rejuvenate itself, not just for St. Bart’s – but for the whole community, it’s important to all of them.”