Eat, Drink and Be Merry for Mardi Gras at Church of Ascension

Even though Fat Tuesday was still days away, neighborhood residents, community leaders and parishioners couldn’t wait to don befeathered face masks, dress in bedazzled costumes and drape themselves with strands of metallic beads on Saturday night, at the Church of Ascension’s fourth annual Mardi Gras Ball.
Though the church has a Mardi Gras celebration each year, this was the first time the event has doubled as an awards ceremony, designed to honor three dedicated community members who have been especially supportive—both financially and otherwise—of the Church’s latest initiative, the Preservation Fund Campaign.
“We’ve been holding our Mardi Gras party for the past four years, and this year we wanted to take the opportunity to honor three people who have been really generous and supportive of our preservation campaign,” said Father Rob Picken.
The Historic Preservation Fund Campaign is a collaborative community effort to raise the funds necessary to preserve the rapidly crumbling Church of Ascension edifice, originally erected in 1865. On Ascension Day 2007, the Vestry created the Historic Preservation Fund to begin earmarking and raising funds for this multi-year plan. In August of last year, the Church received a grant from the New York Landmarks Conservancy to begin preservation work on the parish hall. The Campaign is now in full-swing, relying on parishioners and dedicated members of the community for support, outreach and donations.

The three honorees, all of whom non-parishioners—Paul Pullo of Metro Fuel Oil Corp. and neighborhood residents Nick Sellitri and George Mueller—were each called up to the stage one by one and presented with a plaque. After the ceremony, which was by all accounts short and sweet, the real festivities got under way.
“It’s so cold right now, it’s nice for us to get people warm, inside and having fun together,” Picken said. “The party also adds a little special flavor to the awards ceremony.”
And flavor there was: In addition to an extensive and diverse spread of hot prepared foods, atop each table sat an elaborate sculpture display of feathers, beads and masks surrounded by a smattering of chocolate coins covered in gold foil. There was also a DJ, spinning danceable tunes of all eras to inspire singles and couples alike to take to the dance floor.
“It’s all about eating, dancing, bringing people together,” Picken said. “And having some fun before Lent!”