March 19, 2019

Evviva San Giuseppe! A Look at the 2019 Festa di San Giuseppe in Ridgewood, Queens

Due to the fragile condition of the traditional processional statue, organizers borrowed one from St. Francis of Paola Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
Hundreds gathered at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Ridgewood, Queens Sunday afternoon for the Feast of San Giuseppe sponsored by the Associazone Cattolica Italiana di Miraculous Medal.
(Above & below) Devotees carry San Giuseppe from the Notre Dame Catholic Academy gymnasium to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church 
The statue is placed near the altar in the sanctuary
(Above & below) A look at the newly painted church
The church has a beautiful semidome above the altar
After Mass, the statue is processed out of Miraculous Medal Church 
A large crowd of devotees gather outside the church for the procession
Donations are pinned to the statue
Our friends Anna and Franca from the Our Lady of the Snow Society
The procession departs from the church 
The Giglio Band
(Above & below) The procession wends its way through the neighborhood 
Along the way, devotees greet us with their own statues of St. Joseph 
After a couple of hours the procession makes its way back to the church
(Above & below) San Giuseppe is returned to the gymnasium with great fanfare
Partygoers stand for the National Anthem before the refreshments 
President Tony Mulé kicks off the festivities
Our dear friend Stephen La Rocca, President of the St. Rocco Society, is honored for his devotion and generosity to San Giuseppe
Loaves of blessed bread and prayer cards are distributed to the pilgrims
Children help draw the numbers for the raffle contest
This year's prizes included statues of the Holy Family and San Giuseppe
A few cuties with their beloved patron