LONG ISLAND CITY — Parishioners of St. Rita Catholic Church braved the rain on May 22 to honor the church’s namesake’s feast day and its 125th anniversary.

English, Spanish, and Portuguese speakers alike came together for a prayer service and Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Paul Sanchez, just one of the days of festivities for the parish’s 125th jubilee.

Parish trustee Anthony Perrelli, who played a significant role in planning the week-long celebration, said that it took a series of meetings with pastor Father Felix Sanchez and church staff to curate the events, which included an organ concert with Juilliard alumnus Mark Bani, a film screening about the creation of the church’s stained glass windows, and a festival with food and games.

“One of the challenges we had is that we have three languages here, and Father Sanchez has done a good job of bringing us all together,” Perrelli said. “People are very good at coming together here, because we have the same thing in mind.

“Anything you do in a parish on a community level should be very invigorating for everyone when we’re doing something for God.”

Father Sanchez, who speaks all three languages, joined St. Rita as its pastor last year. While he admits that the planning process had its difficulties, he takes pride in leading a church that has been around for nearly half of the country’s history.

“It’s an important moment to celebrate together,” Father Sanchez said. “I hope what we get with this is to unite the community and to make people know each other. Service to the community is the best way to show that we are here.”

During the prayer service, which was originally scheduled to be an outdoor procession but had to be moved indoors due to the bad weather, parishioners said novena prayers to St. Rita of Cascia, the patron saint of impossible causes and of difficult marriages. A few volunteered to carry her statue around the church as the congregation prayed, some sporting St. Rita shirts.

It’s the moments of communal prayer that keep longtime parishioners coming back to St. Rita’s, including Izamar Gallardo, who’s been a member of the parish community for 24 years.

“My mom brought us initially when I was very young, and we kind of fell in love with the community,” she said. “We have tried other churches, but there’s something about St. Rita’s that just feels like home.”

Gallardo also noted the imagery the church has to offer — architecture, stained glass windows, and other religious items — that brings a sense of history and calm.

“The Christ that we have is very different,” she said, gesturing to the crucifix, which depicts Jesus on the cross before he died.

“From what we’ve been told … he was actually commissioned for this church specifically, so it’s one of a kind.

Theresa McQuillan DeCrescenzo, another lifelong parishioner, welcomed the newer faces that have joined the parish community in more recent years.

“[St. Rita’s] means home, it means comfort, it means God is present here, it means these people are all gathered here as sinners to serve him,” she said. “It’s so incredible and special to be here as the church turns 125.

“When I walk in, I don’t see as many familiar faces, but that’s the reality of passing on the faith to others and the spirit of Christ in welcoming others.”