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Evviva Santa Lucia!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo and Rosanna Minervini
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Led by our esteemed Vice Chancellor Patrick O'Boyle, my fellow Constantinian Knights and I had the great privilege of serving as honor guard at the Missa Cantata for the Feast of Santa Lucia at Most Precious Blood Church in Manhattan's historic Little Italy.
Mass was sung by celebrant and homilist Fr. Michael Barone of the Archdiocese of Newark. He was assisted by several dutiful altar servers, Lorenzo Tinio, Brian Mcguire, Manny Albino, and thurifer Teddy Thongratnachat. Cavalieri Charles Sant’Elia, Vincent Gangone, John Napoli, and Vice Chancellor Patrick O’Boyle of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George were in Attendance.
As usual, Music director Art Manabat, organist Kirsten D'Aquino and the schola were sublime. Congregants were regaled with a phenomenal performance of sacred hymns and traditional liturgical music.
After Mass we adjourned to the rectory for a little wine tasting. Generously donated by Tribeca Vini, partygoers had the opportunity to try several different wines from southern Italy, including a Falanghina from Benevento and Magliocco from Cosenza. All were delicious, but I especially liked the strong-bodied Nerello from Calabria.
A bit peckish from fasting all day, a few of us made our way to nearby Margherita NYC (a cozy little Pizzeria Napoletana at 197 Grand Street) for a late supper. Abstaining from wheat for the holiday, I refrained from eating pizza and pasta and had a simple, but delicious, salad. We slaked our thirst with a few more cocktails and kept our joyous fête going until closing.
Thank you to my fellow organizers who helped make our extraordinary celebration a reality, especially Msgr. Donald Sakano, Pastor of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, for letting us have the Mass at Most Precious Blood Church. It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate our faith and culture together. Evviva Santa Lucia!
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Mass was sung by celebrant and homilist Fr. Michael Barone
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| Our dear friend Cav. Charles Sant'Elia |
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| After Mass, devotees venerate our beloved patroness and offer donations |
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| Revelers enjoyed some fellowship and vino in the rectory |
