St. Roch's Feast returns along with signature raffle after some uncertainty
The St. Roch’s Feast benefits its namesake church, and the event is back in full swing after the future of its signature fundraiser was uncertain.
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A Greenwich tradition more than a century old kicked off Wednesday evening.
The St. Roch’s Feast benefits its namesake church, and the event is back in full swing after the future of its signature fundraiser was uncertain.
St. Roch’s Feast originally began more than 100 years ago to raise funds to build the 95-year-old church.
More than a century later, the money raised is just as vital in keeping things running, and thanks to some bipartisanship, the raffle is on with a lofty goal.
Prior state law had made organizing the raffle between parishes challenging.
Now, thanks to a bill signed in June, parishes can work together to fundraise like they used to a century ago.
The church has worked with a landscaping company and the town of Greenwich to ensure no damage will be done to the Hamilton Avenue School athletic field, which was an issue last year due to drought and difficulty re-seeding the areas affected by carnival equipment.
“Last year, we weren't able to plant seed immediately. This year, we've already got the green light to do that. New England Total Landscaping donated a sprinkler system to the school. It’s going to have a nice, beautiful field no matter what,” said volunteer and organizer Paul Cappiali Jr.
MORE: Residents: St. Roch Church carnival badly damages Greenwich school field
It took some extra work to make sure this year’s feast could be everything organizers hoped it would be, but it all enables vital work for the historic building impossible without it.
“We would’ve never have been able to repoint our church, put new gutters on. That would’ve continued to erode the interior walls of the church, and ultimately be the demise of our cherished building," said Cappiali.
Cappiali said the diocese-wide raffle will likely draw $200,000 to $300,000.
The St. Roch’s Feat is open through Saturday and Hamilton Avenue School children get in two hours early, at 4 p.m. that day, for free rides.
