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| Evviva Maria! After Mass, the statue of "Maronna ru Monte" was placed outside the chapel |
This past Saturday was such a beautiful day, and attending the Feast of the Madonna del Sacro Monte at Holy Face Monastery in Clifton, New Jersey made it more so. Everything about the celebration was wonderful; the attendees, the food, the music, and most of all the devotion to the Blessed Mother. It felt good to witness such at large number of enthusiastic people enjoying themselves at such an event. We are in debt to our good friend Patrick O’Boyle, and the SOGNA-Societa Organizzata per Gioiesi in Nord America for inviting us to participate.
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The lifters gather before the Procession
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Flying Old Glory
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Flower girls scatter rose petals along the pathway
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Ladies carry flowers and votive candles
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Carrying the Blessed Mother along the monastery path
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Devotees sing and pray
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Father Angelo, a native of Caggiano and parish priest of Palomonte, Salerno, joined the procession. Don Angelo is visiting the U.S. to raise funds for some new churches in Palomonte built to replace ones severely damaged and destroyed in the 1980 earthquake
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Passing on our traditions to the next generation
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Benediction outside the chapel
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After the ceremony, Richard and the Tony Neglia Band lead the celebrants back to the picnic area
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Stefano Monforte and Marcantonio Pezzano performed all our favorite Neapolitan songs
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The Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra were awesome
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Celebrants mingle and enjoy authentic Cilentano cuisine
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