By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

It’s been a number of years since Father Jason Parzynski had lived in Rome and spoke Italian.

Photo Gallery: Mass for Feast of St. Joseph in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville.

But when he was presented with an unexpected, yet privileged opportunity to celebrate this year’s Mass for the Solemnity of St. Joseph in Italian in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville, he accepted then proceeded to familiarize himself with the language and practice.

“I never had an opportunity to celebrate a Mass in Italian before,” said a smiling Father Parzynski, who noted that the Mass was sponsored by the parish and the Italian Club from Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, where he serves as chaplain. “I was happy that I was asked to celebrate this Mass. I couldn’t have asked for a better solemnity to celebrate my first Mass in Italian then the Feast of St. Joseph. It was an honor.”

While the Mass in Italian was a first for Father Parzynski, there were a number of folks from Notre Dame who have participated in past years.

Georgia Savarese-Ahearn, Notre Dame’s Italian teacher, said after attending her first Italian Mass in St. Ann Church two years ago, she immediately wanted to get involved and get students involved as well. Last year, students participated as ushers and in the Presentation of the Gifts, and this year there was even more student involvement in the Mass.

Niccolo Valerio and Marissa Vazzoni enjoyed talking about how their participation in the Italian Club gives them opportunities to attend events that are connected to their Italian heritage.

“I am from an Italian family and I enjoy the things we do as a family” that celebrates our culture, said Valerio, adding that by joining the Italian Club at school, he is able to continue what he learns and experiences at home.

Vazzoni, who has been a member of the Italian Club for three years, explained that she was drawn to attend the St. Joseph Mass last year out of affection for her own father, whose name is Joseph.

“Today is kind of like a father’s day for him,” said Vazzoni. “I enjoyed the Mass in Italian because it’s not every day you hear the Mass celebrated in that language. My family speaks it at home and it’s nice to hear other people speak it.”

In his homily, Father Parzynski described St. Joseph as being a “remarkable man in the New Testament.

“Not only is he the step father of Jesus, but he is an example of what faith ought to look like as well as mercy in our everyday life,” said Father Parzynski. Although there is very little mentioned about Joseph in the Scriptures, the few passages in the Bible where he is mentioned and from what tradition says about him, “helps paint a picture for us, especially today as we reflect on the gift of who he was, not only to Mary and Jesus, but to all of us as a member of the Holy Family.”

Video taken by freelance photographer Joe Moore contributed to this report.