Celebrating Pasquetta at the 2nd Annual Our Lady of the Snow Sagra della Pizza Chiena

Organizer, Elena Loguercio welcomes everyone to the party
Photos by New York Scugnizzo 

By Giovanni di Napoli

After a peaceful morning of prayer and meditation, I joined my friends and some sixty revelers at the Our Lady of the Snow Hall in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Monday evening for the 2nd Annual Sagra della Pizza Chiena. Warmly received by Our Lady of the Snow Society President Vinnie Raymond and event organizers Elena Loguercio and Cav. Patrick O’Boyle, guests packed into the hall ready to party. 

The Madonna della Neve

Converging from far and wide, members of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George; the Monte San Giacomo Society of Hoboken, New Jersey; the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; the Congregazione Maria SS. del Sacro Monte of Jersey City, New Jersey; Club Sassiness d'America of Oyster Bay, New York; the San Cono Society of Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and the St. Rocco Society of Potenza in New York City; among others, partook in this year’s festivities.

During the introductions and greetings, our friend Dolores Alfieri, Director of Italian American Affairs for Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented Cav. O’Boyle with a proclamation for his unwavering service to the Italian American community. A well-deserved honor, we are very happy for Pat.

As to be expected at a pizza chiena celebration, many people brought their own homemade versions of the traditional southern Italian Easter delicacy. However, for the sake of variety, several contributors made additional holiday dishes, including frittata di maccheroni, pastiera Napoletana and, my personal favorite, rafaiul cu sanguinaccio, a fried ravioli-shaped pastry stuffed with a rich chocolate and pig’s blood pudding.

Dolores Alfieri, Director of Italian American Affairs for Gov. Andrew Cuomo presents a proclamation to Cav. Patrick O’Boyle

Set on several large folding tables, the fare was served family style beneath the society’s beautiful statue of the Madonna della Neve and, courtesy of the Constantinian Order of St. George, the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 

Before digging in, Rt. Rev. Economos Romanos V. Russo led us in prayer and blessed the bread, cheese and meat.

After the benediction, it took little coaxing to get partygoers to start eating; and eat we did. 

With so many dishes to choose from, it was impossible (for me, at least) to try them all, although we did our best. Among others, I had a taste of Nancy Speranza’s frittata di maccheroni, which is part of my family’s Pasquetta tradition, and Rossella Rago and Nonna Romana’s (of Cooking With Nonna fame) pizza chiena. 

Needless to say, everything I sampled was delicious, but once again I thought Elena’s rafaiul cu sanguinaccio was the standout dish, it was by far my favorite. Perhaps this is because, unlike the the other items offered, I rarely get to have it.

Guests help themselves to a wide range of southern Italian delicacies

Following dinner, partygoers mingled and worked off their meal by dancing the night away to traditional tarantella music spun by DJ Marilena Giovanna. As an added surprise, comedian Marcantonio Pezzano kept us in stitches with his characteristic brand of bawdy humor. Angela Rago took the mike from Marco and kept the laughter going.

Many thanks to President Vinnie Raymond and all the members of the Our Lady of the Snow Society for your remarkable warmth and hospitality. As always, you were magnificent hosts. Thank you to all the people who cooked and contributed to the party. It was a great joy to break bread and celebrate our culture together. Special thanks to Elena and Patrick for organizing the fête. Your hard work and dedication to our community is an inspiration.

(L) Pizza chiena, recipe from Napoli. (R) Calzone rustica, recipe from Teggiano 

(L) Pizza chiena, recipe from Calitri. (R) Pizza chiena, recipe from Caggiano

Pizza chiena, recipe from Monte San Giacomo

(Above and below) Rafaiul cu sanguinaccio, recipe from Sassano

Amaro Lucano and some Paulaner beer for the Feast of San Francesco di Paola

Pizza chiena, recipe from Mola di Bari 

Casatiello, recipe from Sassano

Our dear friends Marcantonio Pezzano, Cav. Rt. Rev. Economos Romanos V. Russo and Cav. Vincent Gangone

(Above and below) Partygoers danced the night away

(Above and below) A good time was had by all

The Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
with the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Our friends from the Monte San Giacomo Society and the
San Rocco Society of Potenza show their Due Sicilie pride 

For more information visit the I love Pizza Gain a.k.a. Pizza Chiena group on Facebook

Happy Birthday Princess Camilla di Borbone!

HRH was born in Rome, Italy on April 5, 1971 

Photo courtesy of Real Casa di Borbone

Happy Birthday Princess Camilla di Borbone — Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro and Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George! May God almighty bless you with a life full of joy and happiness. And may you always find favor in His eyes. Peace be upon you. Auguri!

Photo of the Week: Statue of Emperor Augustus on Mount Solaro, Capri

Statue of Emperor Augustus on Mount Solaro, Capri
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Pasquetta — Little Easter 2018

A most excellent brew

In commemoration of the risen Christ's meeting (and subsequent dinner) with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, a small town outside Jerusalem, southern Italians celebrate Pasquetta, or Little Easter. Traditionally, family and friends would pack a lunch and take a short trip to the shore or countryside in remembrance of Christ’s journey. Because Easter Monday is not a national holiday here in the States and people have to work, its not always easy to organize a group outing. Nonetheless, I still try to keep the tradition whenever possible, even if it is by myself. 

Evviva San Francesco!

This year, because the Feast of San Francesco di Paola falls on the same day, I included a bottle of Paulaner bier from Munich to my cornucopia of Easter leftovers. Reputedly, the monks who started brewing the beer in 1634 were members of the Order of Minim founded by St. Francis and named it in his honor. Paulaner, it seems, is a corruption of Paola, the town in Calabria where St. Francis was born.

Instead of going to a park or museum, I spent the early part of my day meditating and reflecting on my many blessings at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette (8201 13th Ave,) in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, where they have a beautiful statue of San Francesco and tranquil church grounds. Though the inclement weather nixed my plans for a picnic and a beer, the opportunity to join Fr. Kamil Bober and parishioners in praying the first Monday Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal after Mass more than made up for it.

Luckily, later on I will be attending the 2nd Annual Sagra Della Pizza Chiena with the Our Lady of the Snow Society (410 Graham Ave.) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so I will be able to enjoy a drink and a toast to the patron saint of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies with some friends.

Buona Pasquetta, Ave Maria and Evviva San Francesco!

Each year on the Feast, the LaRocca family offers flowers to San Francesco

The Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Snow covered Crucifix and statue of the Sacred Heart

St. Bernadette's Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

Feast of the Madonna dell’Arco

Madonna dell'Arco, ora pro nobis

The Monday after Easter, or Pasquetta, is the Feast of the Madonna dell’Arco, one of the so-called "Seven Sisters of Campania,” an appellation given to the region's major Marian devotions under different titles. Patroness of Sant’Anastasia, Napoli, the miraculous image, which got its name from its proximity to an ancient Roman arch, draws devotees called fujenti (those who come) from towns and villages throughout Campania. In celebration I’m posting a prayer to the Madonna dell’Arco.

Prayer to the Madonna dell’Arco

O Virgin of the Arch, who by means of this holy image painted on the plaster of a modest wall on the public street, worked many great marvels and portents to arouse the amazement of the peoples, showing them to have a particular benevolence towards this place, I beg you to obtain for me from your divine Son Jesus the love and obedience to His holy and divine will for all my life. Ave Maria.

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Via Crucis – The Way of the Cross 2018

Bensonhurst’s Good Friday Procession of the Dead Christ

My day began in quiet reflection at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Despite the cold weather and threat of rain, Italian American Catholics came out in force in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, last night for the annual Good Friday procession and prayer service. 

Led by the Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, parishioners from Saint Athanasius, Saint Dominic, Regina Pacis, Saints Simon and Jude, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Finbar, Saint Mary Mother of Jesus, Saint Bernadette and Saint Frances Cabrini took part in this solemn tradition. They were joined by members of the Italian-American Apostolate, the Knights of Columbus, Gruppo Italiano Sant'Atanasio (G.I.S.A.), the Santa Fortunata Society, the St. Rocco Society of Potenza, and the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata, among others.

Rotating between the churches, this year Saint Athanasius Church (2154 61st St.) had the honor of hosting the Benediction and prayer service. Bishop DiMarzio concluded the outdoor ceremony in English and Italian with a blessing with the Relic of the True Cross.

Special thanks to John Cordi and the members of the Holy Name Society for organizing the St. Bernadette contingent of the procession

(L) For the first time, the Figli Maria SS. Addolorata statue of Our Lady of Sorrows was used in the procession. (R) The procession began at St. Dominic's

Devotees carry the statue of the Dead Christ through the neighborhood

(L) Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio led us through the cold streets of Brooklyn.
(R) Lucrezia Nardulli, president of the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata, with Msgr. David Cassato, Pastor of St. Athanasius Church   

Devotees take turns carrying the Madonna Addolorata

Members of the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata

The Knights of Columbus served as Honor Guard

Members of the Holy Name Society of Saint Bernadette

Our friends Rossella (from Cooking with Nonna), Doloros (from the Italian American Podcast) and Andrew

Members of Gruppo Italiano Sant'Atanasio (G.I.S.A.)

Our friends Robert and Enza
from the National Italian American Benevolent Society

Members of the Italian-American Apostolate of St. Mary, Mother of Jesus 

Red Mike Festival Band

Members of St. Dominic's Church 

Members of the St. Frances Cabrini Society of Brooklyn

Members of St. Finbar Church

Thousands gather outside St. Athanasius Church for the prayer service 

Our Lady of Sorrows meets the Dead Christ outside St. Athanasius Church

(L) Blessing with the Relic of the True Cross.
(R) Crucifix outside St. Athanasius school

Maundy Thursday — Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Church Visitation and the Altar of Repose

Sepolcri were placed at the foot of the altar at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Following Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, my friends and I visited the Altar of Repose for adoration. After spending time in quiet prayer and meditating on Christ’s loving sacrifice, we moved on to nearby St. Francis Cabrini Church in Bensonhurst and St. Finbar Church in Bath Beach.

At each church we visited the Altar of Repose, said our prayers, and offered traditional southern Italian sepolcri and donations. Sepolcri, or lavureddi, as they are called in Sicilian, are potted wheat or lentil sprouts divested of their color by growing them in the dark. Often decorated with ribbons and flowers, the pallid plants symbolize death and rebirth, and herald the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

While we were only able to do three churches, it is customary to visit seven on Holy Thursday in remembrance of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; Jesus bound and taken before Annas; Jesus taken before the High Priest, Caiaphas; Jesus taken before Pilate; Jesus taken before Herod; Jesus taken before Pilate again; and Jesus given the crown of thorns and led to His Crucifixion at Golgotha.

(Above & below) Before Mass, I helped my friend Stephen LaRocca & his family deliver thirteen sepolcri to Msgr. Thomas Caserta, Pastor of St. Bernadette's

The Altar of Repose at the Shrine Church of Saint Bernadette

After "the watching," when the Eucharist is processed to the altar of repose, hundreds of parishioners lined up to light candles and for adoration

The Altar of Repose at Saint Francis Cabrini Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn 

The Pietà inside St. Francis Cabrini Church 

The Altar of Repose at Saint Finbar Church in Bath Beach, Brooklyn

Observing Holy Tuesday with the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George in New York City

Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women
of Jerusalem. Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Cav. John Napoli

On March 27th, the sixth and final Tuesday of Lent, the Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George gathered at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in New York City’s historic Little Italy to pray the Rosary and meditate on the Stations of the Cross. The six-week Lenten devotion has been a rewarding opportunity for our New York/New Jersey brethren to come together in prayer and fellowship, and prepare our hearts for the Resurrection.

Being the second of the Thirteen Tuesdays of Prayer leading up to the June 13th Feast of Sant’Antonio da Padova, we added prayers and meditations to the “Hammer of Heretics” to our hebdomadal observance. As luck would have it, the church is in possession of several relics, including Saint Anthony’s, and we were given an extraordinary chance to venerate them. 

(L) Reliquaries in the vesting sacristy.
(R) The St. Anthony of Giovinazzo Society statue of Sant'Antonio

As expected, Most Precious Blood will no longer be staying open late on Tuesdays, so unless we can work something out with the church our little coterie will have to find a new location to keep our Tuesday night prayer sessions going. We will keep you posted.

In the meantime, I wish you all a blessed Giovedì Santo, Buon Venerdì and a Buona Pasqua! IHSV

Feast of the Madonna dei Bagni

Madonna dei Bagni, ora pro nobis

Holy, or spy, Wednesday is the Feast of the Madonna dei Bagni, one of the so-called "Seven Sisters of Campania,” an appellation given to the region's major Marian devotions under different titles. Patroness of Scafati, Salerno, she gets the title Our Lady of the Baths from a fountain and spring renowned for their healing properties, especially for skin maladies, near where the sanctuary was later built. In celebration, I’m posting A Prayer to Our Lady for Healing. The image of the Madonna dei Bagni with St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist comes courtesy of the Santuario Madonna dei Bagni in Scafati. Ave Maria.

A Prayer to Our Lady for Healing

Mary Immaculate, you have given yourself to us as our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You have asked us to pray with confidence, and we will receive great graces. We know your compassion, because you saw your Son suffer and die for us. In your union with his suffering you became the mother of us all. Mary, my mother teach me to understand my suffering as you do and to endure it in union with the suffering of Jesus. In your motherly love, calm my fears and increase my trust in God's loving care.  According to God's plan, obtain for me the healing I need. Intercede with your Son that I may have the strength I need to work for God's glory and the salvation of the world. Amen. Mary, health of the sick, pray for us.

Feast of San Giovanni da Capestrano

San Giovanni da Capestrano, ora pro nobis

March 28th is the Feast of San Giovanni da Capestrano, Franciscan friar and priest. Patron Saint of military chaplains and jurists, he is also the protector of Capestrano, a commune in the Province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo), where he was born in 1386. 

San Giovanni is revered as the "soldier saint" for his role in the valiant defense of Belgrade against the Ottoman Turks in 1456. With his fiery sermons, he helped raise a peasant army and assisted John Hunyadi, the heroic White Knight of Wallachia, in breaking the siege and routing the invaders. 

In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer in honor of St. John of Capistrano. Evviva San Giovanni!

Prayer to St. John of Capistrano

Lord, you raised up Saint John of Capistrano to give your people comfort in their trials. May your Church enjoy unending peace and be secure in your protection. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Photo of the Week: Bronze Doors from the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù, Salerno

Bronze doors from the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù, Salerno
Photo by New York Scugnizzo