Centennial features Fr. Berardi thespians

Fr. James Berardi, who says daily Mass regularly at St. Paul, has always had a flair for acting. A group called Akron Catholic Thespians of Renown (ACTOR) produced by Fr. Berardi and directed by Jerry Kelly will provide entertainment Sunday for the 100th anniversary dinner of Annunciation Catholic Church.

It naturally will be a sellout crowd. The parish has sold 330 tickets for a dinner at 2 p,.m. Sunday at St. George Antiochian Fellowship Center, 3204 Ridgewood Road. Fr. Berardi’s thespians, including former members of Annunciation, will provide skits and songs.

The afternoon centennial event, catered by Joe Catalano, will include door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

“The Grand Celebration” of the 100h anniversary will begin with a 10:30 a.m. Liturgy at the church at 87 Broad St., Akron.

Fr. Berardi was assigned to Announcation from June 1982 to June 1984. He was appointed chaplain of Akron City Hospital on February 6, 1984. He as chaplain at the hospital for more than half of his years aa a priest–25 plus years. He gave up the job reluctantly on the strong advice of doctors. Because of a low-immune system doctors said he must leave the hospital. His last day at the hosptail was November 28, 2007. His retirement is listed by the Diocese as December 15, 2007. Fr. Berardi lived at Annunciation until moving to an apartment several years ago.

Fr. Berardi celebrates the 7 a.m. Mass at St. Paul on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and alternates the 9 and 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday.

Fr. Berardi was born March 16, 1933 at St. Thomas Hospital and grew up in Firestone Park on Glenmount. He was ordained May 23, 1959 and celebrated his first Mass on Trinity Sunday in 1959 in the old St. Paul Catholic Church which was raised in August 2000 and replaced by the new church dedicated by Bishop Pilla on October 26, 2003.

See an earlier post on a talk by Fr. Berardi to the Serra Club of Akron on January 22.