CELEBRATING ITALIAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE IN IRVINE

St. John Neumann Catholic Church held its annual La Festa Italiana on Oct. 17 at Conlon Hall in Irvine. The festival served as a fall fundraiser for the Knights of Columbus Centennial Council 7985.

The event featured an Italian dinner prepared by the Brother Knights, including penne pasta, Italian sausage with bell peppers, meatballs, and desserts such as cannoli and tiramisu. The Knights of Columbus and the St. John Neumann Women’s Ministry sponsored live music, dancing, an auction, and raffles.

Grand Knight Adrian Marrujo said the council replaced its former Oktoberfest tradition with this Italian dinner after changing community tastes. Volunteers from the Knights and the Women’s Ministry organized the festival, which follows several weeks of ticket sales after Masses.