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Viva San Pio!
Photo by New York Scugnizzo
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By Giovanni di Napoli
Despite the threat of bad weather, hundreds of parishioners packed into Saint Dominic’s Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn Saturday (June 20th) to celebrate the Festa di San Pio da Pietrelcina. In fact, so many people showed up that the room divider needed to be opened and extra seats set up in the gymnasium to accommodate the overflow. Luckily, the kind ladies of the church choir invited me to sit with them, giving me the best seat in the house to enjoy the beautiful music of soprano Briana Weiner and organists Mary Carmosino.
After Mass we fêted Padre Pio with a procession through the neighborhood. Accompanied by Michael Aromando and the Metropolitan Festival Band, devotees sang a prayed for nearly two hours undeterred by the drizzle and mist. Before returning to church, we briefly stopped outside the Caduti Superga Mola Soccer Club on 20th Avenue for the benediction and a few more songs.
Back at St. Dominic’s, the statue was returned with great fanfare to its place of honor in the church vestibule. Before leaving, I purchased a few more prayer cards for my loved ones and lit a few candles for my ancestors.
I want to thank President Vito Liotine, Giovanni Verna, Lucrezia Nardulli Marangelli, and all the members of Caduti Superga for their hard work and dedication. It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate our faith and culture with you. Viva San Pio!
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| Our friends at St. Dominic's had a large selection of religious gift items |
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| Padre Pio is brought out to the expectant crowd |
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| Devotees pin money on to the cape |
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| It started to drizzle just as we got started |
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| The procession wends its way through the mist |
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| Lucrezia Nardulli Marangelli, President Vito Liotine and Giovanni Verna |
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| Michael Aromando and the Metropolitan Festival Band |
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| The procession saunters down 20th Avenue |
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| We briefly stopped at the Cadutti Superga Soccer Club for the benediction |
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| Back at the church, the ladies sang one last hymn for Padre Pio |
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| Votive candles are lit inside the church vestibule |
