The Feast of St. Sophia at St. John’s, Koo Wee Rup

A Vibrant Celebration of Faith: The Feast of St. Sophia at St. John’s, Koo Wee Rup

 

 

Last Sunday, 27 October, the Koo Wee Rup community gathered at St. John the Baptist Church to celebrate the Feast of St. Sophia. This celebration, which has been held annually for more than 50 years, honours St. Sophia, the patron saint of the hilltop town of Sortino in Sicily, where many in the Koo Wee Rup community trace their roots.

 

Bishop Greg Bennet celebrated Mass in Italian, with Fr. Peter Slater. The Mass was accompanied by the beautiful voices of St. John’s Choir, led by Peter Feltham, Rose Ahrens, and Bernie Hance, which added to the reverence of the day. Following Mass, a procession with the statue of St. Sophia took place on the church grounds, symbolising a tradition deeply embedded in the faith and culture of the Italian diaspora in Koo Wee Rup. The procession was filled with hymns and prayers, as Bishop Greg and Fr. Slater led parishioners in a walk of faith and unity.

 

Reflecting on the occasion, Bishop Greg shared a heartfelt message with the congregation: 

"May you be blessed, as a community of faith, particularly the Italian community of Koo Wee Rup and beyond, whose faith has shown us, the Church, what it means to be a fertile place—not only in agriculture but in our hearts of faith. On this day, may we pray to Santa Sophia to watch over each of you with her love and to guide us always to Jesus Christ."

The Feast of St. Sophia has a rich history, rooted in Sicily. St. Sophia, a revered figure in Sortino, is remembered for her virtues of wisdom, faith, hope, and love. According to legend, St. Sophia was the daughter of a pagan governor in Constantinople but converted to Christianity and fled to Sortino, Sicily, where she performed miracles and became a symbol of Christian strength. Her legacy lives on, and each year on this feast day, the community gathers to honour her and reflect on her steadfast faith.

 

    

The Koo Wee Rup festival began in 1973, thanks to dedicated parishioners like Frank and Rosa Caserta, Enzo and Gina Buccheri, Vince Bucello, and Sam and Nella Bertuna. Initially, the festival was celebrated with a large procession through town, food stalls, and traditional Italian festivities. Over the years, the celebration evolved to include cultural events like a spaghetti-eating contest, greased pole climbing, and an airplane lolly drop for children. Though some activities have changed, the heart of the celebration remains rooted in faith and tradition.

The day concluded with a fellowship gathering on the church grounds, where the community enjoyed Italian delicacies from food trucks, barbeque of donated sausages, arancini, gelati van, pizza van, pop corn van and coffee van.  Entertainment was provided by Johnny Vegas and his band who played a tribute to Elvis. This year's celebration, blessed with perfect weather, highlighted the unity and dedication of the Koo Wee Rup community to keep the spirit of St. Sophia alive. Many hope to see this cherished tradition continue, honouring faith, heritage, and the enduring legacy of St. Sophia.