Our Lady of Grace hosts tailgate party

PASTOR’S PALS: Joe Grasso and Joseph Quartino were among the many proud parishioners at OLG who helped Rev. Peter J. Gower host a Super Bowl-like tailgate party Sunday. Above, they’re standing behind the raffle table that included two Rob Gronkowski autographed helmets.

(Sun Rise photo by Pete Fontaine)

Johnston Sun Rise · Friday, November 25, 2016 1:36 pm

By Pete Fontaine

Tailgate parties, which originated in the United States, most often occur in the parking lots of football stadiums before football games. Unfortunately, Sundays New England Patriots-San Francisco 49ers NFL game was on the West Coast, so it was impossible for a local tailgate party in Foxboro or surrounding areas.

That didn’t stop Rev. Peter J. Gower, the pastor at Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston and an admitted Patriots fan, from co-hosting what some called a Super Bowl-like Tailgate Party.

We’ve got everything right here, Joe Andreozzi, a member of the co-sponsoring OLG Holy Name Society, said as he greeted Sundays tailgaters inside the Roman Catholic Parish’s multi-purpose room. Today’s menu is, of course, fun, food and more food.

Andreozzi, assisted by Lou Pontarelli and Greg Parascandolo at the make-shift OLG ticket booth, added, And we’ve got the Pats-49ers right here in living color.

More than 160 people, many of whom were decked out in colorful Patriots garb that featured the names of their favorite players, enjoyed what has become a tradition at OLG.

This was a beautiful night, Father Gower noted. The fun, the fellowship, many people in our parish community coming together; this was a great expression of love in the community for this parish of OLG.

That may have been, as someone suggested, an understatement, considering how many restaurants and vendors from in and around Johnston donated food and raffle prizes. The events biggest donor is without question the fan favorite in New England, tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was injured and didn’t even make the teams trip to San Francisco because of a reported punctured lung. Gronk, as the talented receiver is known throughout Patriotland, donated two authentic and officially signed New England helmets, the highlight of Sunday nights raffle.

Father Gower, meanwhile, praised what he called Team OLG, the parish’s group of extraordinary volunteers who make an event like this so successful.

There are simply too many names to mention, Gower said. The second best part of night that we [the Patriots] won. Overall, the best part of tonight is the fellowship of parishioners coming together and expressing such support for the parish. It truly is a great family event, and we look forward to many such events as we continue to create an atmosphere here at OLG of friendship and love.

Johnston School Committee Vice Chairman Robert LaFazia, who owns and operates LaFazia Auto Body off Plainfield Street in the Thornton section of town, told Father Gower, I’m really, really glad I came here tonight. Great food, great people and a great game; seeing this on the wide screen was special. Please sign me up for the next bash!