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Annual Palm Sunday gathering will be held this evening at St. Rocco’s Church hall

Members of St. Rocco’s Church Holy Name Society at their monthly meeting at Tony’s Pizzeria on Monday night, from left: Danny Argo, Michael Lombardo, Vice President Alfonso Gristina, President Jarrett Ferentino, Jason Ferentino, Jim Bussacco, and Secretary/Treasurer John Trombetta.

Photo by Bill Tarutis

The Holy Name Society of St. Rocco’s Church, Pittston, will host its 62nd and final “smoker” this evening at the church hall. St. Rocco’s parish has merged with Our Lady of Mount Carmel whose Holy Name Society presented its 28th annual “smoker” last Sunday.

At that event, chairman Jim Murphy suggested that if, and most likely they will, the two smokers are combined next year, will it be the 91st smoker, or the first for the new parish, thus beginning a new tradition?

“Smokers” were instituted decades ago as a means to get the men of a parish together during the Easter season. Traditionally held on Palm Sunday, the event would begin with a mass followed by a dinner and fellowship, usually including smoking cigars and playing cards. Over the years, the event has evolved into a dinner with a small program and guest speaker.

St. Rocco’s continues its smoker on Palm Sunday with Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s the previous Sunday. Upwards of 200 men gather for each event, more if there is a local election and candidates wish to be seen and shake a lot of hands.

At last Sunday’s smoker at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fred Berretta, a survivor of “The Miracle on the Hudson,” the airplane which landed in the Hudson River in January of 2009, was guest speaker. Speaker for this evening’s St. Rocco’s event is Rev. Philip Massetti, OSJ, newly installed Provincial Superior of the Oblates of St. Joseph and new pastor of the combined parishes of St. Rocco’s and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Father Massetti, of California, offered remarks at last Sunday’s event.

Toastmaster this evening will be Al Gristina.

President of St. Rocco’s HNS is Atty. Jarrett Ferentino.

Jim Bussacco, a lifelong member of St. Rocco’s parish, recalled the history of the Palm Sunday smokers. “When the men of St. Rocco’s started their annual Palm Sunday smoker the Holy Name Society had well over 100 members and most of them were prominent citizens of the South side of Pittston,” Bussacco said. “This was in 1948. This last smoker will mark 62 years of its existence and all through those years the annual smoker was well attended and successful.”

Bussacco continued, “Through the years the smokers had many noted speakers and toastmasters to attract the large crowd that attended, one or two times reaching close to the 500 mark. Extra tables and chairs had to be found.”

Bussacco listed some of the presidents and active members of the Holy Name Society through the years: Jarrett Ferentino, (present president), William Brennan III, Carmen LoPresto, Judge Joseph Augello, Raymond McNulty, Russell Arnone, Sam Falcone, and John Trombetta. Deceased: Mike Fiume (the first president and founder), Erminio Cefalo, Sam Argento and William Maloney.

Tickets are still available at the door.

Cost is $12.00