NORWICH – St. Bartholomew’s will celebrate its 83rd Annual Italian Feast Day Friday, Saturday and Sunday behind the Monsignor Festa Parish Center, 81 East Main St.

Although the official St. Bartholomew’s feast day fell on Tuesday this year, event coordinators reported they’d received permission to hold the celebratory Mass at 9 a.m. Sunday, a portion of which will be said in Italian.

Instituted in 1927 by Father Walter Sinnott, the annual event, from 1927 to 1953, was held at the local church and church hall before relocating to the Chenango County Fair in 1954. In 1978, the celebration returned to the church grounds, where it’s been held ever since.

Coordinators for the event said they “feel this celebration is important to carry on the traditions” of the church, “so our children and grandchildren know where they came from,” as previous generations were responsible for “helping to build the church.”