Easter comes early to Our Lady of Grace

The third annual Our Lady of Grace Easter Fair took place on March 24 and March 25.

Families around the neighborhood enjoyed a fun-filled weekend, complete with an Easter egg hunt, pictures and breakfast with the Easter Bunny, a magic show, a 50/50 raffle, penny auction, a visit from a local fire engine company, vendors and food.

“It went very well – every year we get bigger and bigger,” said Mary Ann De Luca, chair of the Easter Fair Committee.

The Easter Egg Hunt took place on the parish grounds in front of the St. Anthony Grotto on Saturday and was organized by Angela Valenti and Michael DeMartino. Robert DeCapua supplied hungry hunters with frankfurters.

On Sunday, 165 people came to have breakfast with the Easter Bunny and enjoy bacon, eggs and pancakes, also prepared by the DeCapuas.

Throughout the weekend there was a bunch of extra fun. Angela Capriola organized the 50/50 raffle. Esther Soscia, 85, is the head of the Widow’s Support Group and helped the group bake and donate cakes. Marie Soranno was in charge of the penny auction and the Teen Group sold chocolates. Rose and Paul Lovetere organized all of the vendors and there was also a thrift shop table run by members of the Widow’s Support Group: Betty Pellicano, Irene Sellitto, Jeanne Nisa and Gloria Fargo.

“We try to get all of the groups involved,” De Luca said, noting that Pastor Thomas Leach was also a huge help. “Every year we get bigger and bigger. We just try and get the kids involved in the community – not just the kids in the church but everyone else.”

De Luca said that the Easter Fair and the Christmas Fair are the highlights on Our Lady of Grace’s calendar. “Our motto is, ‘Family tradition’ and between these fairs, we get the people motivated to come out here [to support] the church.”