The 121^st Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is just around the corner, and already Chief Marshals Jerry and Denise Dufour are preparing to celebrate this most pious event. They will also be joined by this year’s Thomas Vendituoli Faith in Action Award winner, Jacob Steadman.

The 2019 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Feast, the oldest Italian Feast in honor of the Blessed Mother in the State of Rhode Island and established by the Italian immigrants who moved to Bristol in 1899, will be held Thursday, July 11, through Sunday, July 14, under the Big Top, on the Bristol Town Common. As is the case every year, great Italian/American food and entertainment will be among the feast highlights.

Actually, the announcement of this year’s chief marshals was made during Easter weekend by the Rev. Henry P. Zinno, Jr., pastor.

Born in New Bedford, Mass., and moving to Rhode Island in 1984, the Dufours joined Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in 1993. They have two children, a daughter and a son, who both graduated from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School.

“They have been very involved with the church and the school for 27 years in multiple capacities,” explained Father Zinno. “She started volunteering and substitute teaching at the school on occasion, eventually becoming the Pre-K teacher. Jerry is an engineer for the Navy, served on the committee which designed and built the first computer lab at OLMC School, and continues to provide technical support to the parish. She continues to volunteer at the school. They both serve on the school board, and have been members of the parish choir since 1993.”

Father Zinno continued, “They have served on various parish committees whenever requested. She is a cantor and soloist at the parish, as well as a Eucharistic minister for school masses and has sung in multiple churches since the age of 14. As pastoral musicians for the Diocese of Providence, they have sung with multiple groups at various events throughout the diocese over the years. They are the proud parents and in-laws of three Thomas Vendituoli Faith in Action award winners, Zach and Elise Augustine and Fr. Phillip Dufour.”

“In addition, they have spoken about vocations at Monday Morning message at our school, and have been actively supporting vocations in the diocese. They had their first grandchild born in January, Christian Marcel Augustine, and of course, they are the proud parents of our most recently ordained priest in the diocese, Rev. Phillip Dufour.”

The Dufours were admittedly surprised when asked to be chief marshals this year.

“It was both a surprise and an honor to have been asked by Fr. Zinno to serve as chief marshals for this year’s Feast,” they said. “This Feast is such an important part of the fabric of the family that is our parish. To help in any way to continue this tradition is a privilege.”

The soft-spoken Jacob Steadman was very complimentary in his praise for the late Thomas Vendituoli.

“This is such a great honor for me,” he said. “I’ve always done what I could for this parish, and it’s an honor to receive this award in recognition of a man whom I admired and respected so much.”

The Tom Vendituoli Faith in Action Youth Award is given each year, in conjunction with the OLMC Feast, to a young person, 30 years of age or younger, who displays the qualities of putting faith into action which were so much a part of Tom Vendituoli’s life.

Jacob is 24 years old and has been a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for his entire life. He is a graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in 2009 and graduated from Bishop Stang High School in 2013. He has been an Altar Server and Master of Ceremony for the church and has been volunteering as a CCD teacher and confirmation teacher for the past nine years.

Jacob has also volunteered with the Special Olympics of Rhode Island and has worked in nonprofit organizations as a youth worker. He currently works for the Boys and Girls Club of Providence and has volunteered at the church feast. His parents, Jeff and Alisa Steadman, were the chief marshals of the OLMC Feast in 2006.

Said Father Zinno, “So, together with the Dufour family, OLMC Bristol now has two families who have received all our feast honors.”    

He added, “It seems like I have known the Dufours forever. They are involved in all aspects of parish life and are always willing to do more to help our church and school grow and flourish. Not only are they a great family of faith, but they are lots of fun to know.”

“Jacob Steadman is the kindest person you will ever meet.   A smile is ever on his face, and a helping hand is always ready to serve. You can always count on Jacob to be there for the parish. Tom Vendituoli would have been proud of the young man Jacob has become.”