September 19, 2018

Celebrating the 11th Annual Feast of the Madonna Addolorata in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn (Part 1)

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