It could have been a church square in Italy.

September sun slanted beneath the tops of large white tents set up next to St. Mary’s Church in Knightsville on Sunday, providing some shade for family and friends gathered to laugh, listen to live music and enjoy freshly made Italian food – lots of food.

The church held a three-day festival last weekend as it continues to celebrate its centennial. Unlike the huge holy feast of the Madonna della Civita that the church holds every summer – complete with processions, a parade and fireworks – the centennial festival was a little more intimate. It was an old-fashioned event with home-cooked favorites, children’s activities, live music and Friday night bingo.

It was a labor of love for City Councilman Richard Campopiano, who is very active in the parish, including serving on its finance committee.

 “I’ve been working on this for months,” he said Sunday. “I just wanted it to be a traditional Italian festival for our 100^th anniversary.”

Campopiano said he is grateful to all the local restaurants and other food purveyors who created a tempting array of Italian dishes for festival-goers to choose from. There were hearty sandwiches overflowing with sausage and peppers, pizza slices, pastries, huge circles of fried dough and much more.

Some of the most traditional dishes were favorites, including homemade assorted Italian cookie trays and stuffed shells cooked up by Pastor Michael Sisco using his mother’s recipe.

“Father Sisco made 1,350 shells,” Campopiano said as the priest presided over his food table wearing a bright red chef’s hat.

Campopiano said he was also grateful to his family, particularly his wife, Deb, who wrangled many of the logistics of keeping the food vendors stocked throughout the three-day event. And even his grandchildren pitched in wherever they could.

The event benefitted and celebrated the church, Campopiano said, adding that it was also intended to preserve traditions while also creating new memories for younger parish members. “This festival is to celebrate community, family and faith,” he said.