Festival will celebrate St. Rose of Lima

Staff report
St. Rose of Lima, for whom the local Catholic Church was named, will be remembered and celebrated around the world this weekend, on or about her feast day, including here in Wilmington.
The St. Rose parishioners invite the community to their first Feast Day Festival on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the church, 603 S. Main St. Activities are planned throughout the day for all ages.
St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington opened its doors in 1855.
According to catholic.org, St. Rose of Lima is remembered for her piety and chastity. She was born in 1586 in Lima, Peru, to Spanish colonists and was named Isabel Flores de Olivia and noted for her exceptional beauty. Her beauty was so great they nick-named her "Rose."
From an early age she wanted to become a nun. She often prayed and fasted in secret and performed secret penances, some of which were painful and severe. Rose performed daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and took daily communion.
As a young lady she began to attract suitors, so to deter these men she cut off her hair and marred her beautiful face by rubbing it with pepper so it would blister.
Her parents opposed her desire to take a vow of chastity, but her father eventually relented. When she was 20 she was permitted to join the Third Order of St. Dominic.
She continued a life of extreme prayer, fasting and penance. She was known to wear a heavy silver crown, with spikes that could pierce her flesh. The spikes reminded her of the Crown of Thorns.
St. Rose died in 1617 at the age of 31 and was recognized as a saint in 1671. Her feast day is Aug. 23. St. Rose is the patroness of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, those who suffer ridicule for their piety, and people who suffer family problems.
FestivalActivities
5K run/ 1-mile fun walk
Feast Day Festival will begin early, with a 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun walk stepping off from the church at 8 a.m. Runners will be timed as they make their way through neighborhood streets. Racing surfaces are paved roads and flat surfaces.
The 5K top male & female finishers will each receive their own trophy. Awards will be presented to the 5K top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over.
For safety reasons bikes, skates, skateboards and pets are not allowed on the race course. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcomed for the fun walk.
The 1-mile fun walk will begin after the runners and will be untimed.
Packet pickup will take place at St. Rose School, 626 S. Kankakee St., Wilmington on Friday, Aug. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. and on race day beginning at 7 a.m.
Registration is still open and participants can register on the day of the event. Register at https://runsignup.com/strosefeastday (online registration closes Aug. 22) or pick up registration forms at the Free Press Newspapers, 111 S. Water St., Wilmington. The cost is $25 per participant, although there is a discount for multiple participants from the same family.
Results will be posted on the Kankakee River Running Club website: www.kankakeeriverrunningclub.com
Craft/vendor fair
A craft and vendor fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the church parking lot. The Fr. George Kuzma Council 11149 Knights of Columbus will be cooking, the Council of Catholic Woman is holding a bake sale and the youth will sell snow cones, popcorn and drinks.
Just for kids
Children’s games, face painting, the bubble machine and fast pitch activities will keep youngsters busy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Something for everyone
• From 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., the Amazing Tim Adamz the Magician, who has been named one of America’s top magicians and has literally performed tens of thousands of shows all over the world, will delight kids of every age.
• The South Suburban Dulcimer and Folk Music Society will perform folk and traditional music on folk instruments from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Laughter will fill the air between 1:15 and 2 p.m., when The Visiting Nuns host a flashback to those days in Catholic school catechism class.
The money they earn from their performance supports the Wambale Catholic Mission in Uganda, a safe space for children who have been abducted and enslaved by extremist rebels. The mission’s goal is to provide the village children with an education and families with a healthy environment. It teaches boys and girls a trade; clean water collection, sustainable farming, irrigation, maintenance, sewing and crafting; to break the oppresive hold of the rebels.
Solemn Mass
St. Rose will hold a Solemn Mass in honor of St. Rose of Lima. Fr. Damien Graziano, pastor emeritus of Ascension parish in Oak Brook, will be the celebrant and main homilist.
Fr. Damien is Chicago-born but spent many years in Africa on mission. Co-celebrants will be Fr. Marcin Jarzenkowski, dean of human formation at Metropolitan Major Seminary in Lodz, Poland and Fr. Sebastian Gargol.
Deacon Jay Plese will be serving.
Mass begins at 4 p.m.
Dinner
A picnic dinner to be served in the school gym immediately after the Mass, approximately 5 to 7 p.m. Pulled pork with sides and dessert will be served for a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children. There will also be a kid’s meal option of hot dogs and mac and cheese.
Evening entertainment
• Pineapple Tonic, a six-piece band that plays a diverse mix of music for all ages, will perform in the entertainment tent from 6 to 10 p.m. They play EDM, pop, rock and oldies.
• A beer and wine garden will be open from 6 to 10 p.m., for those age 21 and older.
Parking
Parking will be available across from the Church and St. Rose School. Additional parking is located in front of Wilmington Middle School just a short walk from St. Rose.
All questions can be directed to Katrina Plese at kpaddick2@gmail.com.