The community joins together

Blessed Sacrament Church holds multi-cultural festival
      More than a thousand people from all over Valley Stream and beyond celebrated the rainbow of ethnic diversity on Saturday at Blessed Sacrament's first multi-cultural festival in the church and its parking lot on McKeon Avenue.
      The festival was the concluding event of the Roman Catholic parish's 50th anniversary year.
      "We decided to celebrate who we are as a parish and as a community," said Sr. Sheila Ferraz, chairperson of the festival's organizing committee. "I was very happy to see so many people - over 800 people at the Mass and over a thousand at the outdoor festival - appreciating the other cultures, accepting each other and just joining in the singing of songs in so many languages."
      A committee and subcommittees totally nearly 300 volunteers put the celebration together, which included the Mass, food tables, heritage center, bagpipers, music, and 17 entertainment acts on stage.
      "There was such a marvelous spirit displayed," Sr. Sheila said. "Culturally, we are very diverse in this parish, and in Valley Stream as a whole. We have to appreciate each other and learn ways to come together in non-threatening ways. Our aim was to celebrate our cultural diversity and our oneness in Christ at the same time."
      The Committee consisted of Barbara Grecco, Joanne Manfre, Joanne Penna, Peggy Sullivan, Richie Sullivan, Kathy Vagnone, Lucy Vavosa and Sister Shelia Ferraz, Chairperson.
      The sub-committees were Liturgy (P. Sullivan, L. Vavosa, chairpersons), Entertainment (J. Penna, S. Shelia, chairpersons), Food (B. Grecco, J. Manfre, J. Penna, chairpersons), Heritage (K. Vagnone, chairperson), Publicity (A. Scotto, S. Shelia chairpersons), Set-up and clean-up (R. Sullivan, chairperson).
      Countries represented in the parish are Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Spain, Sri-Lanka, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and Wales.
      Earth Banners were made by Roseanne Potter; flame holder made by Tom McGrath; banner and flagstand made by Gerry Locastro.
      Other important assistance was provided by Carla DelCastillo, Kathy Carey, Lucy Vavosa, Ann Scotto, Millie Grecco, Arthur Haglich, Peter Birdsall, Michael Gray, the Adult Choir, Contemporary Group and Junior Choir, John Cook, Michael Gray and Linda Lockspeiser.
      The event was also made possible by donations from St. Theresa Council, Valley Stream Republican Club, Cranado Appliance, Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce, Bank of New York, TP Class, PJ Harpers, Coca-Cola, Valley Stream Rotary Club, Italian-American Civic Association, Valley Stream Democratic Club, Mitchells, La Cantina, Outback Steak House, King Kullen, Pathmark, Key Food, Waldbaums, John and Nancy Dwyer, Joe Curcio, Mark Daley, Jim Snider, Vinny and Joanne Penna, Carol Kelly, Coffee Distributors, Lucia and Cesar Julio Fernandez, Catherine and Hans Semder.