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Sanfedisti enjoying the great outdoors
Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
Saturday, November 9th — Gathering in the early morning at the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents (128 West 37th St.) in Manhattan, members and friends of the Fratelli della Santa Fede (Brothers of the Holy Faith) celebrated the Feast of Sant’Agrippino di Napoli with prayer, fellowship and a highly anticipated cultural excursion to Casa del Caciocavallo Farms (10 Orchard Dr.) in Gardiner, New York.
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| We came prepared to pray at Holy Innocents |
Expecting a quiet opportunity for prayer and meditation at the church, we discovered a handful of parishioners already in the process of praying the 2,000 Hail Mary Devotion, which is offered every second Saturday of the month from 6am to 4pm. In addition to the Holy Rosary and our usual prayers of thanks and praise, we included petitions to Sant’Agrippino for the happy repose of the souls of the faithful departed.
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| Scenic Casa del Caciocavallo Farms |
Deeply Committed to acts of Heroic Charity, the Sanfedisti regularly offer to God our satisfactory works and suffrages, as well as invoke the saints to assist the poor and forgotten Souls in Purgatory.
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| One of the stars of the show |
After our supplications, we began our long trek Upstate, with a brief detour in Hoboken, New Jersey to pick-up a straggler. Once out of the city, our journey was all smooth sailing. Taking in the beautiful countryside and changing foliage, our party listened to music and discussed a wide range of topics, including the recent poor form and tumultuous atmosphere surrounding the Napoli football club. Partenopei fans to a man, our pessimism in the current squad proved prescient as the disappointing 0-0 draw later in the day against lowly Genoa confirmed. Since we’re adults and have way more important things to worry about, the team’s failure to get a result did not dampen the excitement of our trip.
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| Packing up the cheese |
Welcomed to the CDC Farms by owner and cheese maker Freddy Destefano, we were brought to his modest warehouse, where the artisan caciocavallo is hung to age for no less than sixty days. Made with fresh curd from Hudson Valley cow’s milk, the tasty teardrop shaped cheese are heated and stretched by hand before being brined. Stocking up on the southern Italian delicacy, our group bought several cases to share and enjoy with family and friends back home. Unable to wait, we carved one up on the car ride home.
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| Loading our haul into the car |
Having made good time, we were in no rush to return to the city, so we did a little exploring and ended up at Tony’s Place, a nearby sheep and goat farm our friend Frank Cicc’ has been patronizing over the past two decades for his freshly slaughtered paschal lamb. Originally butchers from Corona, Queens, Tony, his wife Emma, and their dog Lily warmly welcomed us into their home for some espresso with Sambuca. Before leaving, our gracious hosts let us explore their rustic farm and see some of their ruminant livestock.
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| Tony and Emma |
Not quite over, our entertaining day trip continued back in Hoboken. Dropping off Cicc’ and his cases of cheese, we were invited in to join him for some caffè and a shot of Anice liqueur from Sassano (Alfonso Penna). When his daughter Annamaria learned about our little jaunt to Tony’s, she shared a childhood story of how her grandmother killed her pet rabbit for dinner. This prompted the rest of us to recall our own affecting stories of slaughtered pets. The death of Carmine’s beloved goat "Billy" was definitely the most graphic, if not the saddest.
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| This curious fellow wasn't camera shy |
Bidding Cicc’ and Annamaria farewell, the rest of us moved on to Carmine’s workshop to unload his cheese and catch a glimpse of his vast collection of presepio pieces. An avid crèche builder, Carmine is famous in Hoboken for his annual Christmas display. In 2016 his work was featured in the Hoboken Historical Museum, who published the artist’s oral history chapbook, I Imagine My Town Being the Town Inside, Recollections of Carmine Percontino. Revealing his plans for this year's tableau, we got a sneak peek of his budding creation. Still early days, we’re sure it’s going to be magnificent.
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| A friendly little critter greeted us by the fence |
Getting late and tired, the rest of us wanted to beat the traffic and get back to our loved ones in New York. Normally we would all go out for dinner or stay at someone’s house to fête the saint, but we were too full from all the cheese we ate in the car. Sant’Agrippino must have been with us, because we got home with minimal delays.
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| Snacking on some caciocavallo in the car. Imbibing some Anice at Cicc's house |
Later that evening, when my appetite returned, I couldn’t resist another go at the caciocavallo. With one of our earlier conversations about the different ways we enjoy eating the prized cheese replaying in my head, I decided to roast mine over hot coals and spread it on some toasted bread. Paired with a cluster of grapes and a glass of Lacryma Christi wine from Feudi di San Gregorio, it was the perfect way to end our celebration of the glorious third-century Bishop of Naples. Viva Sant’Agrippino!
~ Giovanni di Napoli, November 11, Feast of San Martino di Tours
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| Carmine revealed his plans for this year's tableau |
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| He has an impressive collection of presepio pieces |
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| A section of his outdoor crèche |
