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| Evviva Maria! Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
As part of my weekend long celebration of the anniversary of my investiture into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, I joined my brother Knight Cav. Charles Sant’Elia for Mass Saturday morning at the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in East Harlem, New York. Sponsored by Jean Pignatelli, the Missa Cantata (or Sung Mass) was celebrated by Fr. Christopher Salvatori, who spoke glowingly of the 100 plus year tradition in East Harlem and fondly recalled his own pilgrimage to the Santuario della Madonna Incoronata in Foggia, Puglia. Following Mass, Cav. Sant’Elia and I had the great honor of presenting the large painting of the Madonna Incoronata to the congregation for veneration. We then carried the sacred image in procession back to her chapel at the front of the church. Evviva Maria!
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| Arriving early I was able to visit the saints and say my prayers before Mass |
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| Cav. Charles Sant'Elia with the pontifical decree approving the Canonical coronation of the statue of the Madonna of East Harlem |
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| (L.) After Mass, we returned the painting to its display case inside the chapel. (R.) Father Chris with Mass sponsor and devotee Jean Pignatelli |
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| (L.) The bust of San Giovanni Battista shares the chapel with the Madonna Incoronata. (R.) Standard of the old Sant'Elena di Laurino society in the rectory |
