James Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Sunday just past it was my pleasure, as it always is, to attend the Madonna Di Montevergine Festa at the St Francis of Assisi church in Newton in my electorate. I thank, firstly, Father D'Souza for, as always, a very touching and solemn service in Italian language, and also congratulate Domenico Zollo, John DiFede and the other leaders in the Montevergine Festa Association. Unfortunately, I couldn't be there in the evening for the main formalities, because this sitting week was scheduled and I had to fly here to Canberra. But they did a fantastic job on the 67th anniversary of the feast, as they always do.

Regrettably, the last two years have been very difficult for these important community events and for worships such as the Montevergine Festa to go ahead. They've done a great job through difficult times, but this year they were back as strong as ever. I look forward to continuing to attend this very important event for my local Italian community and the Catholic community in my seat of Sturt well into the future. Once again, I congratulate everyone associated with a sensational event and I wish them all the best into the future.