FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 4, 2008
Media Contact: Dennis Caldirola (206) 282-0627

Once again, this year's Festa Italiana will start on Sunday, September 21st with a traditional Catholic Mass to be said in Italian at Mt. Virgin Church in the Mt. Baker district. Mt. Virgin was the Italian Mission church in Seattle and consequently the original community center for Italian immigrants for over fifty years. At one time, there were so many Italians in Mt. Baker that the neighborhood was affectionately nicknamed "Garlic Gulch."

Weekly Mass hasn't been said in Italian at Mt. Virgin since the early '60's. Nowadays, Mass is celebrated in either English, Laotian or Chinese, reflecting the needs of the newest immigrant communities; yet once a year, local Italian-Americans return to their roots and celebrate the passing-of-time together in this traditional religious ceremony. It is open to the public and there will free refreshments following. The Celebrant this year will be the Very Reverend Paul Magnano, Vicar for Clergy in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

When: Sunday, September 21, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Where: Mt. Virgin Catholic Church 1531 Bradner Place S. in Seattle
Cost: Free to the public.

Festa Italiana is a week-long series of events started in the Italian community in 1988, culminating in a large Italian Festival at the Seattle Center. With an attendance last year of over 40,000, the Italian Festival is the largest Italian-American event in the Northwest and the largest ethnic festival in Seattle. It features food, music, art, dance and fun for the entire family.