Friday night at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, more than 200 people turned out for the very first Italian-American potluck gathering held especially for congregation members, and coinciding nicely with Columbus Day week. What a great night! It didn’t look like Charlotte in that crowded room; it looked like a Catanoso family reunion, with two long tables of home-cooked Italian specialties, young families with kids, plenty of older folks, and everyone having fun. I spoke for about 45 minutes, and at times the room was so quiet as I told tales of Padre Gaetano, Uncle Tony and the canonization that I could hardly believe it. Afterward, people shared their own stories of Italy and several teared up. When we finally finished, I signed books for an a full hour. Amazing.

A special thank you to Monsignor McSweeney at St. Matt’s for inviting me and Antoinette Usher for so cheerfully and efficiently planning and executing the evening. They hinted that they would like me to come back. I will happily do so.

I also had a great time at the Italian Festival in uptown Charlotte today, which was teeming with food, entertaiment, Italian souveniers and thousands of guests. Plenty of interest in My Cousin the Saint, too.