43
Hundreds at Italian Festival attend Mass — with an oom-pah-pah twist
By ED RUNYAN
YOUNGSTOWN
Twenty minutes into the Catholic Mass, an altar server washed the hands of the Rev. Mike Swierz — in the way every Catholic priest’s hands are washed at that point in the service.
And though this Mass was taking place in a tent on West Federal Street on Saturday afternoon during the Greater Youngstown Italian Festival, the more unusual part of the service was the music.
“Accept our change of heart, accept our open hand,” came the words from the Del Rezek Orchestra at the front of the tent. The lyrics, written by the Rev. George Blasko, a Catholic priest who formerly served parishes in Youngstown, accompany a traditional Slovenian polka melody.
The music, full of saxophone, accordion and drums, is in all ways a polka, though played in a low-enough tone to be respectful.
Despite the upbeat music — associated with festivals and weddings — it was impossible to find anyone so much as tapping a toe among the 300 or so worshippers.
By the end of the Mass, however, as worshippers sang “Adio, the Mass is now ended,” and the smell of fried food breezed through the tent from nearby vendors, a few of the participants could be seen swaying and enjoying the bouncy Slovenian polka.
Forty-five minutes after it had started, after all of the normal parts of the Mass had taken place, the polka Mass ended.
Father Swierz, of St. Joseph the Provider Catholic Church in Campbell, said afterward that this was the fourth consecutive year he’s presided over the festival’s polka Mass.
But he has celebrated polka Masses several times per year at his parish over the past 10 years. Del Rezek of Girard, the orchestra’s leader, said he and Father Swierz collaborated on polka Masses at St. Rose Church in Girard, dating back about 15 years.
“It’s a happy type of Mass,” Father Swierz said. “It’s very prayerful. It’s not dancing, but it’s polka music set to hymns.”
Rose Marie Quaranta of Akron, who was attending the three-day Italian Festival downtown with her husband, Vittorio, her son-in-law and grandchildren, agreed.
“It was very different, but we enjoyed it,” she said.
Rezek said the story he’s been told over the years is that either Father Blasko or a priest in Minnesota originated the idea of the polka Mass about 40 years ago.
“To me, the music is uplifting. It’s happy,” he said, adding that it’s possible to see a few feet tapping during the Mass but no dancing.
Anyone who wanted traditional polka music only had to stick around a short while after the Mass. The Del Rezek Orchestra played for two hours.
The festival, in its 25th year, continues today at noon with a traditional Mass in the same tent, followed by performances on two stages by Avanti, Rocky Chirchiglia, Rocco Monaco, Dick Contino, Sensations and Lena Prima.
Organizers have been pleased with attendance. About 15,000 people attended Friday, Festival Chairman John Rossetti said.
More than six city blocks are full with entertainment, rides, food and events, organizers say. Admission for adults is $3; children under 12 are admitted free.