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Celebration All About Mary

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: December 24, 2008

NORTH TAMPA - A four-day celebration of Mary, the mother of God, will culminate in a food festival celebrating the diversity of the parishioners of a local Catholic church.

St. Mary Catholic, 15520 N. Boulevard, plans its first Marian Festival with a New Year's Day celebration of the Mass by its former pastor, the Rev. Robert Morris, who is now vicar general for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Three days of Masses and receptions will precede the New Year's Day celebration, said Walt Atzert of Carrollwood Lakes, the festival's chairman.

New Year's Day is the Solemnity of Mary, a holy day of obligation, Atzert said. "And since our patroness is St. Mary, we thought we should have a festival around her. It would be like St. Joseph's (Catholic Church in Tampa) has the Feast of St. Joseph."

The festival includes a Mass on Monday, coordinated by a neighboring parish and led by the Filipino community; a Tuesday Mass organized by the Santa Maria Mission, a University Area outreach to the Hispanic community; and a Dec. 31 Mass organized by St. Mary. All are at 6:30 p.m. with a social time in the church's parish hall afterward.

The Jan. 1 celebration features three church choruses at 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11 a.m. and a procession on the grounds afterward where the Mystery of the Rosary will be recited.

"We will end up at the front of the church where Father will bless the parishioners' little statues of Mary," Atzert said.

Morris, who served at the as pastor of the church for almost 10 years, said his message is to be related to Mary as the patroness of the church and to show the pastor, the Rev. Jude Vera, "how much we appreciate him."

"And I expect to talk about the coming year, its challenges and opportunities that lay ahead," Morris said. "It is always nice to return to the communities you have served, too."

A food festival featuring ethnic foods such as baked ziti and traditional American fare of hamburgers and hot dogs will follow.

"This will give people an alternative to the ball games," Atzert said. "We will let people celebrate Mary as the mother of God in a good, fun way to recognize her."

Atzert said the organizers have no idea how many people will attend. "But we are a hoping for full house."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Marian Festival, with celebration of the Mass, choral presentation and food samplings

WHERE: St. Mary Catholic Church, 15520 N. Boulevard

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. Jan. 1

COST: Free, offerings accepted

INFORMATION: (813) 961-1061 or visit www.stmarytampa.org

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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