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| A little history with your spaghetti... St. Rita Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner Since 1937 In the spring of 1937, a group of Italian ladies met to plan a spaghetti dinner. this was the be a special event as well as a fund raising activity. Josephine Garbarino would bring her special salad dressing while Felicina Gamenara and Rosetta Garre would cook the spaghetti. Frances Montecucco was to take charge of the sauce. Livia Gianini and Dina Odino would help. Mary Damonte volunteered to serve dessert – homemade pies – along with Esther and Virginia Bottaro. All would bring sauce. It was a stormy Sunday, but there was feverish activity in the basement of the small brown church on the corner of Prescott and 102nd. Unexpectedly big crowds came for the dinner and the ladies ran out of spaghetti! Felicina and Rosetta rushed upstairs to the small kitchen to make some more home made noodles. Everyone who came was served and the women realized a profit of $100.00. And so, 66 years ago marked the beginning of St. Rita’s traditional Spaghetti Dinner. In the 1950’s, meatballs were added to the menu, and we now make 10,000 meatballs. The even was moved to Palm Sunday. In 1954, Lou Garre became the first Wine Steward. His father supplied some wine as a trial, and it became a popular addition to the festivities. To show how the dinner has succeeded beyond the dreams of those early Italian ladies, we contrast the following numbers. In 1937, the ladies of St. Rita’s served approximately 100 dinners. In 2002, we served over 2,500 dinners to hungry patrons! Our Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner has come a parish wide event, with just about everyone taking part, and its fame has spread throughout the Portland area. And so to our many patrons, Bon Appetite! |
Chris Kresek, the Pastoral Administrator, says that in addition to being a major fundraiser for the parish, “Families use this event as a gathering time. It is a family tradition.” Many families have been coming to the dinner for generations. Kresek also marvels at the precision organization of the dinner saying it goes off like clockwork every year. As one example of the level of organization needed to pull off the dinner, a dining room matron oversees four tables in the dining hall, and is responsible for recruiting, training and supervising all the wait staff for her section.
The dining hall is, of course, decorated with an Italian theme that includes items that are now a bit tattered from use, but Garre feels it’s all part of the tradition. The red, white and green striped aprons, reminiscent of the Italian flag, worn by the wait staff were all handmade by the ladies of the church.
Sunday, April 4 from noon to 6 p.m. it the date and time of this year’s dinner at St. Rita Catholic Church, 10029 N.E. Prescott St. Dinners are $8 for adults, $4 for children and include spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread and desserts along with water, punch, coffee or tea. Wine, beer and softdrinks are available at additional cost. They will be prepared to seat 400 diners at any one time. For those on the go, take out dinners are available at the same price.
If you would like more information or wish to volunteer, call the church at 503-252-3403.
That long-ago gathering in a cozy Italian kitchen spawned a wonderful community tradition. The organizers have one message for you. Come, enjoy, share.
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