Parish marks 100 years, recalls its Italian roots Mayor of founders' small Italian town on hand to celebrate BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer The Most Rev. Paul B. Bootkoski (r), bishop of the Metuchen Diocese, principal celebrant of the Mass celebrating the 100th anniversary of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Port Reading, on Nov. 5, blesses the Rev. William J. Smith, who has been the church's pastor for three of his 35 years in the priesthood. WOODBRIDGE - The 100th-year anniversary Mass for St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Port Reading brought tears of joy to longtime parishioner Tillie Yacovino. "This parish has been so loving and giving," said Yacovino, who has been a parishioner since 1946. "I'm from Colonia and I come here. The Mass just brought me tears of joy, laughter and happiness. It's truly a wonderful parish." St. Anthony's, which has over 1,000 parishioners, celebrated the end of their year-long centennial anniversary celebration [themed Celebrating a Century of Catholic Faith] with a string of events last week, including a large Mass with principal celebrant Bishop of Metuchen Paul G. Bootkoski on Nov. 5. Amato Rizzo (l), mayor of Pietrastornina, Italy, presents a clay plaque from his small farming town to Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese during the celebration marking the 100th anniversary of St Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Port Reading. "The church has exhibited 100 years of faith and making Jesus real in Port Reading," said Bishop Bootkoski. "With its Italian roots and all ethnic backgrounds, you can feel the warmth of the love not only from God, but from the love of your neighbors." It was in 1906 that a group of people from a little farming town in Pietrastornina, Italy, founded St. Anthony of Padua Church in Port Reading. "I am so happy to represent my ancestors who started this church 100 years ago," said Pietrastornina Mayor Amato Rizzo in his native Italian language. "I am very emotional and it's an honor." The mayor and his associates stayed in Port Reading, where many of the descendants have stayed, for the week-long celebration. He presented Bishop Bootkoski with a clay plaque of Pietrastornina during the celebration. "The first permanent church was built in 1914 for $16,500," the bishop said. "Where can you find a church for that amount of money today? Nowhere." In 1991, the church was rebuilt for $2.6 million. "Now that's a large difference from 1914," Bootkoski said. As the church's three choirs sang and the Knights of Columbus stood watch, the presentation of bread and wine was made by the oldest member of the parish family, Caterina LaTorre, 98, and the youngest baptized member, Kyle Thomas Coleman, 2 months old. Flags that represented ethnic backgrounds of the over 1,000 parishioners adorned the base of each pew. The flags included Cuba, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Scotland. Parishioners said their prayer intentions in a myriad of languages including Italian, Hungarian and English. The Rev. William J. Smith, who has been the church's pastor for three years and is the ninth pastor at St. Anthony's, said the parish community worked on three major projects during the year for the anniversary. "We established an Election Day spaghetti dinner that benefits the work of our parish youth ministry that has grown and developed, reaching out to those 13- to 20-year-olds," said Smith. The parish also has reached out to those in need. "We have reached out to the community at large to provide a space for alcoholics and those addicted to drugs, so they would have a safe place to begin their recovery," said Smith, "and to establish their sobriety and mature as a person of faith in God. We had 75 to 100 people attend in the summer and we expect the program to grow." Smith said his proudest development is the third project. "We have our third choir - the contemporary music group, which began one year ago this month under the direction of Gregory Grispart," he said. "Our other two are the adult and children's choirs. The contemporary group has led worship through music once a month and provided music for a Diocese of Metuchen-sponsored Mass for Youth Ministry." Smith, who also celebrated his 25th year of priesthood and received a blessing from Bishop Bootkoski, said the anniversary for the parish community is an affirmation for generation and generation to come. "And it's a great honor for me to be the pastor for such a wonderful generation," he said. The church has been a big part for over three generations of the Martino family in Port Reading. "My wife Patricia and I have been parishioners all our lives" said Marty Martino. "We were both baptized, and made our first communion and confirmation there. We were even married at St. Anthony's. Our twin children, Dr. Marty Martino and Joanne Shafer were also baptized, made their first communion and confirmation at the church as well." Martino's father, Sabatino was born in Pietrastornina. "My father's parents came to Port Reading," he said. "Likewise, both of my wife's grandparents, John and Catherine Zullo and Pasquale and Pellegrina Barbato came from Pietrastornina also. Her parents Alfred and Antoinette Barbato were raised in Port Reading." Sister Alice Swartz said she misses the place where she worked for eight years. "I left in 1997," said Swartz, who now works for the Sisters of Charity at Mount Saint Mary College in Watchung. "Today is like coming back home for me again. I didn't work for Father Smith, but he has made me feel like a part of everything. It's wonderful." Italian Mayor Rizzo said he received such a warm welcome. "I'm inviting everyone to come visit Pietrastornina," said Rizzo. "And you will be treated the same way." The Rev. Smith and Bishop Bootkoski were joined by the Rev Michael G. Krull, the eighth pastor of St. Anthony's; the Rev. Dean Edward Puleo; the Rev. Edward Struzik of Old Bridge, Pastor Don Giovanni Merolillo; Deacon Joseph Ragucci; Deacon Alberto [Mickey] Coppola; and the Rev. Monsignor Michael J. Alliegro. The mass ceremony also revealed a church quilt that the parishioners worked on throughout the year. Along with the flags, there were banners of the different ministry organizations that were displayed throughout the church during the Mass.