Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast in Springfield

An important element of the annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Feast commenced Sunday morning. 22 News reporter Reto Jaya has the story. The annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Feast is a weekend long celebration of family, faith, food and tradition and an essential element of the celebration is mass. Then follows a procession through the historic south end of Springfield Incredible. After 129 years, 1897 it started, we always still, we still fill the church up overflowing and it's such a joyous community event for us as Italians. Italian sashes proudly displayed all day long, symbolizing deep rooted pride. During the procession, we spotted Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, who's been going to the church since he was a kid. Family, our family faith that he is, which is the church and food to the tabla manjada. Everybody to the table and eat. We also spotted Congressman Richard Neal, who grew up in Springfield as he notes what personally stood out to him old world in the new world. It's pretty neat and still the large number of Italian immigrants that are here. It tells a great story about America. The mass and procession wasn't all guests throughout the day enjoyed another feast, the good old grease pole competition as well as one last procession to end the night working for you. Aretta Odiah 22 News.