October 10, 1999
Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana
4:43 p.m.

I finally found people who understand the importance of fresh mozzarella, who probably cried when Roberto Baggio missed the goal in 1994 and who know the true meaning of ti amo.

After four long years of searching the District, I finally found my people at the small Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana. Casa Italiana, located next door to the church, is an Italian cultural mecca that includes a caf? and Italian classes.

The “Littlest Italy,” as the regulars sometimes call the church and the adjoining center, is hidden by the D.C. court buildings and the National Building Museum at Judiciary Square. But for D.C.’s Italian community, the charming white complex is all that matters. It serves as a sanctuary, even a second home.

On Sunday mornings, the regulars pour into Casa Italiana after Mass. They lounge at the tables, sipping espresso and taking in life as though they were at a bar in Roma.

This Sunday they added entertainment to their weekly ritual in honor of Santo Rosario Sunday. Festa Italiana, an annual street fair, offered a patchwork of Italian culture, including food and music.

The scent of fresh tomato sauce at the fair reminded me of Sunday mornings in my parents’ house in New Jersey. The resonance of loud, passionate discussion enhanced the nostalgia. The paisanos were out in full force, and the romantic Italian language rolled off their tongues like song.

Dressed in red, white and green Old World-garb, members of a dance troupe circled in the tarantella, a traditional Italian dance. A few old men sat off to the side tapping their feet to the beat of the music. With every smack of the dancers’ tambourines, the connection between the people and their heritage grew louder and more obvious.

The beauty of most of my countrymen is the finesse with which they welcome strangers. In the spirit of the culture, the organizers made sure everyone ate, sang and danced.

On the outskirts of the stage, vendors and cultural societies set up information tables. Kathy Estep hosted the table for the Italian Cultural Society, whose group promotes Italian culture and education and offers services to Italians, Italian Americans and Italophiles of all ages.

Estep said a special camaraderie exists among her group’s members.

“We’re more like a family,” she said.

She was not alone. GW junior Catherine Armetta, who comes from a suburb outside of South Philadelphia, said she too could easily relate to those at Festa Italiana.

“It feels like home,” she said.