A Look at the 2015 Festa di Sant’Antonio di Padova in SoHo, New York

Devotees pin donations on to the saint

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Giovanni di Napoli

Saturday evening (June 13th), my friends and I headed to SoHo for the Festa di Sant'Antonio at the beautiful Shrine Church of St. Anthony of Padua (154 Sullivan St.). Mass was celebrated with Father Joe Lorenzo, followed by a procession through the bustling streets of Lower Manhattan. 

Louise Acampora and the Red Mike Festival Band kept the revelry going, as participants prayed and sang hymns in honor of our glorious patron. An occasional burst of confetti from the truck carrying the saint elicited cheers from the crowd. After about an hour, we returned to the church to venerate the saint’s relic.

Same as last year, my friends and I wandered over to Carmine Street for a delicious celebratory dinner at Numero 28 Pizzeria. Naturally, on a Saturday night there was a short wait for a table, so we took the opportunity to visit the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Pompeii across the street, before being seated.

Following our delicious meal, we took a short passeggiata and briefly stopped by Father Demo Square. A peaceful little triangle with benches and a fountain, there is a terrific view of the church bell tower. It was the perfect way to cap off our long, but edifying, evening. Viva Sant'Antonio!

It was great to see our friends Phil, Victoria and Jennifer from the St. Rocco Italian American Mutual Aid Society of Fort Lee, New Jersey

Standard bearers head the procession

Special thanks to Toni Rosa for her hard work and dedication 

The Red Mike Festival Band

Nearly a thousand people participated in the procession

Returning to the church 

Reliquary inside St. Anthony's Church

Sant'Antonio is returned to his place of honor beside the altar

Afterward, we visited Numero 28 Pizzeria for a celebratory meal

A view of the Our Lady of Pompeii bell tower from Father Demo Square

A Look at the 2015 Festa di Sant'Antonio di Padova in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Viva Sant'Antonio!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Hundreds gathered at St. Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn Sunday morning (June 13th) for the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua. Mass was celebrated in English and Italian by Monsignor Cassato, followed by the blessing of the bread and procession through the neighborhood. After distributing the loaves, the celebration came to a close with the veneration of the relic back at the church.

Monsignor Cassato blesses the bread

Devotees pin donations on to the Statue of Saint Anthony 

Mariano and Luca show their support 

Emulating their hero 

The Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata led the way 

Members of Gruppo Italiano S. Atanasio (G.I.S.A.) sing and pray 

The Giglio Band were awesome 

There was a terrific turnout 

Residents erected shrines outside their homes 

Members of the community offered food and water to the marchers 

After the Procession, St. Anthony is returned to the church 

Back at the church, devotees venerate Saint Anthony's relic

Feast of Santa Marina Vergine

Santa Marina, ora pro nobis

June 18th is the Feast of Santa Marina, Virgin of Bitinia (Bithynia). Widely venerated throughout Southern Italy, she is the principal patroness of Filandari (VV), Polistena (RC), Casole Bruzio (CS), Ruggiano (LE), Santa Marina Salina (ME), Santa Marina di Milazzo (ME), and Cumia Inferiore (ME), among others. She is also venerated on July 17th in memory of the translation of her holy relics to the Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa in Venice. In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to Santa Marina in Italian. The accompanying photo was taken at the 2014 Feast of Santa Marina in Inwood, Long Island. Evviva Santa Marina!

Preghiera a Santa Marina

Salve, o Marina vergine
che avvinta al Redentore
soffristi il disonore
con tacito pudor.

Di santo ardore sfolgora
il nostro cuore triste
che per amor di Cristo
sopporti ognor dolor.

Pura innocente vergine
per gli altri penitenti
con la tua fiamma ardente
purgasti L'altrui error.

Sia gloria nell'empireo
al santo Genitore
al Figlio e all'Amore
in cielo, in terra ognor.

An Embarrassment of Riches

Society of St. Anthony of Giovinazzo

Statue at Most Precious Blood Church

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

By Giovanni di Napoli

With four different Saint Anthony celebrations taking place on Saturday (June 13th), choosing which ones to attend was no easy task. I enjoy them all, but unfortunately, I was not blessed with the gift of bilocation.

Do to timing and proximity, attending the Feast of Sant'Antonio di Padova at Saint Athanasius Church (2154 61st St.) in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn was a no-brainer. [See upcoming post] In contrast, the Giglio Feast of Sant'Antonio di Padova at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (627 E. 187th St.) in the Bronx was the furthest away. Despite my soft spot for this celebration (this is where I lifted my first giglio) and my fondness for the shops on Arthur Avenue, I thought it best to cover multiple events elsewhere in the city.

Normally held in May, the fate of the Festa di Sant'Antonio di Padova in historic Little Italy was surrounded with uncertainty do to rumors that Most Precious Blood Church (109 Mulberry St.) was closing.* Thankfully, the beautiful church survived the recent spate of closings and the Society of Saint Anthony of Giovinazzo were able to honor their glorious patron with a Mass and procession.

Our friends from the St. Anthony of Giovinazzo Society
making last minute preparations for the feast

Even though their feast is one of my favorites, I felt it was unfair to the good people at the Shrine Church of Saint Anthony of Padua (154 Sullivan Street) not to attend their event, especially since this is when they normally celebrate.

I can't go to the Shrine Church of San
Gennaro without visiting our beloved patron

However, having arrived early to the city, I was able to briefly visit our friends from Giovinazzo at Most Precious Blood. They are still undecided on whether or not they will resume the eleven-day street festival in May but, thankfully, they are not discontinuing the Mass and procession. After making my donation and wishing them well, I made my way to Sullivan Street for Mass. [See upcoming post]

If this "embarrassment of riches" becomes the norm, I may have to rotate which feast I attend so we can continue to support them all. Viva Sant'Antonio!

* Not only did Most Precious Blood remain open, the church also inherited the Feast of San Rocco and the Feast of San Vincenzo from St. Joseph's Church (5 Monroe St.). Sadly, St. Joseph’s will be closing its doors in August.

A Look at the 74th Annual Festa di Sant’Antonio di Padova in Elmont, Long Island

Viva Sant'Antonio!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Giovanni di Napoli

After a trying week of work, my friend and I were looking for a brief respite from the city, so we took a short trip to Elmont, Long Island for the opening night of the Feast of Saint Anthony.

Arriving a little early, we visited the newly renovated Saint Anthony Chapel on 90 Meacham Avenue for the Novena. Greeted by our dear friend Marcantonio Pezzano, we were given a pleasant tour of the facilities and introduced to several members of the society. 

Warmly welcomed, we were shown many fantastic old photographs, bronze bas-relief plaques, and historical flags and banners. Members told us some interesting anecdotes about the society’s history, including its mystical origins back in 1941 in Jamaica, Queens after a neighborhood man told his friends he was visited by the saint in a dream.   

I was told many of the members served their country valiantly during the Second World War. Each man was pinned with a Saint Anthony medal before leaving and miraculously they all returned alive. Almost on cue, I met John Cervini, a veteran who fought at the Battle of the Bulge and one of the lucky lads who came home. Incidentally, the society’s statue of Saint Anthony hails from Germany before America’s involvement in that terrible conflict.

Relocating to Elmont after the race riots of the 1970’s, the feast continued to prosper until about the late 1990’s. Like so many other traditional societies and confraternities, the systematic breakdown of our community, secularization and aging memberships remain daunting challenges.

(L-R) Marcantonio Pezzano with John Cervini

Because I don’t eat meat on Fridays, I couldn’t partake in some of the southern Italian delicacies they had to offer (e.g. trippa alla Napoletana), but I had no problem finding something delicious to eat. In addition to Coney Island Joe’s Zeppole and Calzone Stand and Lisa Ann’s Sausage & Peppers Stand, there was a hot buffet with a variety of dishes inside the society’s Hall. We enjoyed our meal outdoors under the big tent in the cool night breeze, while listening to the festive sounds of Melodia.

Sadly, all good things come to an end and we had to say farewell. However, before leaving we returned to the chapel to visit the beautifully decorated shrine to Saint Anthony. Flanked by the Madonna del Carmine and San Michele Arcangelo, we pinned our donations on to the saints and said a prayer. On our way out, we were generously given loaves of blessed bread for our family and friends.

I want to thank Marcantonio and all the members of the Saint Anthony of Padua Benevolent Society for their hard work and dedication. It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate our faith and culture with you. Viva Sant’Antonio!

A wonderful tribute to the society's past

Members sold religious items outside the society hall

Joseph and Joe from Coney Island Joe's churn out batches of delicious zeppole

Cyrus and Stefanie provide service with a smile

Melodia kept the festivities rolling

A look at the beautiful shrine inside the chapel

Photo of the Week: Il Campanile del Duomo di Ravello

Il campanile del Duomo, the 13th-century bell tower of the cathedral in Ravello 
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

A Look at the 2015 Festa di San Cono in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Viva San Cono!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Last Sunday (June 7th), my friends and I joined members of the Società di San Cono in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for the Feast of San Cono, patron saint of Teggiano, Salerno. Starting from the society's clubhouse at 231 Ainslie St., the procession meandered through the neighborhood to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, where we celebrated Mass in Italian with Msgr. Joseph P. Calise. 

After Mass, we briefly stopped by a private shrine on Richardson Street (also known as San Cono Strada) devoted to the saint. The owners graciously opened their doors to us so we could visit their beautiful statue and say a prayer. They also generously provided the marchers with cold bottled water and delicious homemade cookies. I enjoyed a mouthwatering anginette, better known as a lemon drop cookie. Following the short rest, we resumed our peaceful stroll back to the club.  

Due to a previous engagement, I couldn’t stay for the after party, so I said my goodbyes and wished everyone well. I want to thank President Rocco Manzolillo and all the members of the San Cono Society for their hard work and giving us this fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate our faith and culture. I had a terrific time and look forward to celebrating with you again next year. Viva San Cono!

While the men prepare to lift San Cono, ladies look after the putti

To the delight of the expectant crowd,
Teggiano's glorious patron is brought out with much fanfare

The procession makes its way through the neighborhood

Processional float bearing San Cono

Anthony’s Italian American Marching Band

Devotees saunter behind the saint

Ascending the steps of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

A beautiful altar cloth with painting of San Cono

San Cono inside OLMC's Hall of Saints

After Mass, members pose for pictures on the church steps

Leaving Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Father and son celebrate their faith and culture

Along the parade route, we visited a private shrine devoted to San Cono

A good time was had by all

Society youth display the banner

Grand Marshal NYFD Commissioner Daniel Nigro and his beautiful family

Triumphant return to the clubhouse