Holy Water on the Pits: St. Robert Bellarmine Blesses Its Grills Ahead of the 77th Annual Barbecue Fall Festival Nov. 6–7
Parishioners at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church gathered for the traditional blessing of the grills, kicking off preparations for the parish’s 77th annual Barbecue Fall Festival on Nov. 6–7, 2026.
Long before the first Boston butt went on the fire early Saturday morning, the people of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church gathered for a tradition that has become as much a part of their fall calendar as the barbecue itself: the blessing of the grills.
Parishioners assembled the day before the cooking began for the short service, held in preparation for the church’s 77th annual Barbecue Fall Festival. This year’s festival is scheduled for Nov. 6–7, 2026.
The Rev. Joseph Chacko led the blessing, which included both the grills and the kitchen in the parish’s Boland Hall. For Chacko, the festival is about far more than food.
“This is not only a celebration of the parish, but it’s a celebration of the whole city,” Chacko said.
A Simple Service With Deep Roots
The blessing itself was brief and straightforward. Chacko led those gathered in prayer and offered a scripture reading from the Letter to the Galatians, one of the New Testament epistles attributed to the Apostle Paul.
He then moved through the cooking area, sprinkling Holy Water on the grills, on the volunteers who will be helping with the fundraiser, on the kitchen, and on the barbecue supplies that will be used to prepare the festival’s food.
In the Catholic tradition, Holy Water is a sacramental — a sacred sign used in prayer and blessing — and it is commonly used to bless people, homes, objects and places. A blessing of the tools and workers who will carry out a parish’s largest fundraiser reflects a familiar idea in Catholic life: that ordinary work, including cooking for a crowd, can be offered up and dedicated to a greater purpose.
The blessing of the grills takes place at this time of year as the parish begins the work of getting ready for the festival, making it one of the first visible signs that the annual event is drawing near.
Seventy-Seven Years of Barbecue
The number on this year’s festival speaks for itself. A 77th annual event means the Barbecue Fall Festival has been a fixture for generations of parishioners, many of whom likely remember attending as children before eventually taking a turn at the grills or in the kitchen themselves.
Church festivals of this kind are a longstanding tradition across the South. They typically rely on large teams of volunteers who handle everything from cooking and serving to setup and cleanup, and they often serve as a parish’s most important fundraiser of the year. They also serve a social purpose, bringing together church members and neighbors from the broader community around a shared meal.
Chacko’s description of the festival as “a celebration of the whole city” underscores that idea. While the event is organized by the parish, it is meant to welcome people well beyond the church’s membership.
Why Boston Butts?
The Boston butt mentioned in the parish’s preparations is a cut of pork taken from the upper part of the shoulder. Despite the name, it does not come from the rear of the animal. The cut is a staple of Southern barbecue because its marbling and connective tissue break down during long, slow cooking, producing tender meat that is well suited for pulling or chopping.
Cooking Boston butts for a large festival is a time-consuming process that typically begins in the early morning hours and continues for many hours over low heat. That is one reason festival barbecue operations often depend on experienced pitmasters and dedicated volunteer crews — and why the work starts so early.
Volunteers at the Heart of the Festival
Notably, the blessing included not just the equipment but the people who will make the festival possible. By sprinkling Holy Water on the volunteers who will help with the fundraiser, Chacko recognized the role they play in carrying on the tradition.
Volunteer-driven events like this one depend on many hands: people to tend the fires, prepare and package food, handle sales, set up and break down, and greet visitors. For a festival now in its 77th year, that volunteer spirit is a large part of what has kept the event going across the decades.
Mark Your Calendar
With the grills now blessed and preparations underway, the parish is looking ahead to the festival itself in early November. Those interested in attending, purchasing barbecue or volunteering are encouraged to contact St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church directly for details on hours, menu, pricing and ordering.
- What: St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church’s 77th annual Barbecue Fall Festival
- When: Nov. 6–7, 2026
- Who: Hosted by the parish of St. Robert Bellarmine; the Rev. Joseph Chacko led this year’s blessing of the grills
- More information: Contact the parish office for event times, menu and volunteer opportunities
About the Parish’s Namesake
The parish takes its name from St. Robert Bellarmine, an Italian Jesuit, theologian and cardinal who lived from 1542 to 1621. He was canonized in 1930 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1931, a title given to saints recognized for their significant contributions to theology and doctrine. His feast day is celebrated on Sept. 17.
For the parish that bears his name, early November will bring a different kind of celebration — one built around smoke, slow-cooked pork, faith and fellowship, and a tradition that has now reached its 77th year.
