Sunday afternoon the parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Auburn will host a celebration of one of the most important days of the church, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It's called The annual Food Festival, and the entire community is invited.

“The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is one of the oldest celebrations in the church,” said Ted Cheche, the chairman of the feast committee. “They were holding a festival here even before the church was built.”

It's an ethnic Italian food bazaar and will feature eggplant, baked ziti with meatballs, pizza fritte, sausage with peppers and onions, hot dogs, hamburgers, steamed and raw clams, pizza, chicken gizzards with sauce, homemade cakes, wandies, cannolli, Italian ice, beer, soda, water and coffee.

“This is the one feast when all the organizations and committees within the church work together for the same goal - the St. Francis general fund, which the pastor distributes at his discretion,” he said.

Those church organizations, such as the parish council, the Knights of Columbus and CYO will have booths at the festival along with vendors and crafters. Volunteer have donated many hours of planning and preparation in making all the special foods. Raffles will be held throughout the day, and there will be games, face painting and a moonwalk for the

children.

The celebration will begin with a procession of a statue of Mary to the shrine by the church parking lot while the church members sing hymns.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is based on the Catholic tradition honoring Mary the mother of Jesus. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.”

The first written records of this feast date back to the fifth century, and the feast day of Aug. 15 was set in the year 508. In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared Mary's assumption as part of Catholic Dogma.

This year, the feast falls during the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Francis Church. The original church built in 1907, and the one now used by the congregation, was built in 1958. For many years, the church also operated as a school. In the church hall are, literally, two cornerstones of the church's history, one from the original church and one from the school.

St. Francis Church was founded by Italian families who settled in the west end of Auburn and worked in local factories around the turn of the century. Some children and grandchildren of the original families still attend services at the church. Church members have been submitting old photographs, newspaper clippings and family stories, which will be collected into a commemorative booklet planned for publication in the fall.

The parish anniversary committee has scheduled special events for every month this year. The biggest Mass of the year will be held Sept. 30, at the church, and it will include Bishop Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester and other special guests and dignitaries.

As for this weekend's events, Cheche said he hopes everyone will join in the celebration.

“It's a great bazaar,” he said. “It's a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun.”