The first family festival fundraiser at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church this past weekend raised approximately $45,000 for the parish, according to Holy Spirit pastor Father Frank Grieco.
The four-day festival was the brainchild of Grieco, who suggested the idea to the Holy Spirit parishioners when he became parish pastor 10 months ago.
“When I came here I thought the parish needed some excitement and we needed to raise some money,” Grieco said.
He said attendance was good through the four days and the money raised would be used to support a variety of parish programs. But, he said, the family festival wasn’t intended for the benefit of Holy Spirit parishioners alone.
“It’s not just a parish function. It’s a town function. And that’s what’s making it so great,” Grieco said.
The festival ran from last Thursday, May 29 through early Sunday evening on June 1. The festivities were well attended on Saturday, with festival visitors enjoying an assortment of rides and midway games from Newton Shows and live music from Irish folk singer Victor Cunneen and Spectrum, a local rock band.
“As a community event, it’s a great event because it brings everybody out to socialize,” said Jim McHugh, a leader of the Park Civic Association and Holy Spirit parishioner.
The festival rides were set up in the parking lot in back of the Holy Spirit parish offices and the live music was performed the parking lot in front of the parish offices, with several food vendors located along South 6th Street.
Grieco said parishes in East Northport and Deer Park, where he had been pastor before coming to Holy Spirit, had both held similar festivals.
“We hope to make this an annual event,” he said.
Holy Spirit parishioner Kevin Fitzpatrick, who headed the committee that planned the event, said the community participation the festival sparked was more important than the money it raised.
“More than anything else, we’re pleased that everyone came and had a nice time. And a lot of people made a lot of new friends,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said nearly 100 parish volunteers from the parish donated their time to the festival, including the beer and wine booths next to the live entertainment venue.
Corporate sponsors for the festival included the Inn at New Hyde Park, First Flag Realty, Sakowich Plumbing & Heating and Erin Construction.
