The Coronation
Evviva Maria! Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
A look at Saturday’s 11th Annual Feast of the Madonna Addolorata at St. Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. (See part 2, The Procession, and part 3, Mass and Dinner Party)
Members of the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata emerge from the church with the statue |
Soprano Cristina Fontanelli sings Ave Maria in Latin and Italian |
Pastor Msgr. David Cassato leads us in prayer |
Monsignor blesses the newly acquired crown from Napoli |
Monsignor blesses the ten-year-old statue and attendees |
Monsignor places the crown on the statue |
Monsignor offers the keys of the church to the Blessed Mother Photo courtesy of Josephine DiDonna |
(Above & below) Unable to contain their enthusiasm, participants shoot confetti canons and giant sparklers |
Confetti rains down on the celebrants |
Devotees release balloons into the sky |
Children dress up like the Blessed Mother |
After the coronation, the procession is ready to begin |
(Above & below) The procession departs the church grounds |
Devotees carry a processional canopy & the statue of the Blessed Mother |
The procession makes its way down Bay Parkway |
The color guard lead the way |