Evviva San Rocco! A Look at the 135th Annual Feast of San Rocco di Potenza in Little Italy, New York

San Rocco, ora pro nobis

Despite the threat of rain, hundreds of devotees made their way to Most Precious Blood Church in Little Italy, New York, on Sunday for the 135th Annual Feast of San Rocco di Potenza. Thankfully the rain never came and the over three-hour-long procession through the bustling streets of Chinatown and Little Italy went off without a hitch. Evviva San Rocco!

(Above & below) After Mass, members of the San Rocco Society
depart Most Precious Blood Church with great fanfare

Society President Stephen La Rocca sang a
heartfelt rendition of Appresso al santo

Donations and ex-voto are attached to the statue

Outside the church, the saint is greeted by a throng of revelers

Our friends from the San Giuseppe Society
of Lodi, New Jersey, show their support

The Giglio Band

(Above & below) Departing Most Precious Blood Church the
procession wends its way through Chinatown and Little Italy

Makeshift roadside shrine with first-class relic of San Rocco
and 1905 standard was erected outside the Italian American
Emporium on the corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets

Perhaps unwisely, I decided to wear my vintage San Rocco Society ribbon for the occasion. At some point, during the opening ceremony, I lost the ribbon's ornate badge with the image of San Rocco. A friend pointed it out to me and my heart sank. Retracing my steps with the faint hope of finding it among the crowd and confetti proved to be unsuccessful. Petitioning Sant'Antonio di Padova as a last recourse, my friend immediately spotted the badge at the foot of the statue.

Recounting what had just happened to someone I met during the procession, he quibblingly said that I should have appealed to San Rocco instead. Unsure why he disapproved, especially since my entreaty was answered, I just smiled, nodded, and moved along. Obviously, I meant no disrespect to San Rocco, especially when you consider how often he has come through for me in the past, I just instinctively turned to Sant'Antonio, who is renowned for helping people find lost items. Considering the result, it seems I chose wisely.

(Before and After) My vintage San Rocco Society ribbon

Confetti littered street 

The recovered badge