Evviva San Rocco! A Look at the 2016 Festa di San Rocco in Astoria, Queens

Evviva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

On Saturday, August 27th we celebrated the Festa di San Rocco in Astoria, Queens. Thank you President Vincenzo Carpinelli and all the members of Societá Gioventú Quagliettana for your hard work and dedication. As always, it was a great pleasure to be a part of your special day. Special thanks to Tina and Gerardo Carpinelli for your extraordinary warmth and hospitality. I was deeply touched to have been chosen to be a gift bearer (I've never had the privilege before) and bring forward the wine during the offertory. This remarkable honor added another fantastic memory to the already memorable day. Evviva San Rocco!

Flags and standard added pomp and pageantry to the celebration 

(Above & below) The procession makes its way to Saint Joseph's Church

(Above & below) Devotees carry votive candles

Young ladies carry offerings for the church

Children learning to love their cultural traditions

Rev. Cesar Peña and Rev. Vincent F. Miceli with the relic of St. Rocco

Outside the church, ladies pray and sing devotional hymns to San Rocco

(Left) The statue is carried into St. Joseph's for Mass.
(Right) The statue is placed beside the altar

After celebrating Mass, participants depart from the church

(Above & below) The procession heads back to the clubhouse

(Above & below) Members take turns carrying the candle house (cinte)

A good time was had by all

Michael Aromando and The Metropolitan Festival Band

(Above & below) Back at the clubhouse ladies sing a hymn to San Rocco

Evviva Santa Rosalia! A Look at the 41st Feast of Santa Rosalia in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Evviva Santa Rosalia!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Thanks to Santa Rosalia Committee Chairman Enzo Venuto and organizers, President Lucrezia Nardulli and members of Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata, and all the participants for making this year's feast a huge success. Evviva Santa Rosalia!

(Left) Enzo Venuto, Lucrezia Nardulli, Frank Naccarato, this year's Grand Marshal Carlo Lauricella, Angelo Timoneri and friends with our beloved patroness. (Right) Efforts were made to raise money for the earthquake victims in Italy

God bless the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata for their continuous support and dedication to our community. I'm proud to be a member!

Sunday's procession makes its way down 18th Avenue

Members of the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata carry a banner promoting their Feast at St. Athanasius Church on September 11th

The color guard show their enthusiasm  

(Above and Below) A sea of black and gold lined Bay Ridge Parkway

Devotees sing and pray as they march

President Lucrezia Nardulli with Gabriella Parente
and Vice President Josephine DiDonna

(Above and below) It was great to see so many children
participate in this year's procession

(Left) This lucky fella had the best seat in the house.
(Right) Vittoria Cirigliano, Regina Figli Maria SS. Addolorata

Participants gather at St. Dominic's Church (2001 Bay Ridge Pkwy) for Mass

Proud Nonna Lucy Spata (Left) and Grand Marshal Carlo Lauricella (Right) surrounded by some of their many admirers 

(Left) Newly restored statue on float with flowers.
(Right) During Mass the statue is placed beside the altar 

The Metropolitan Festival Band

The bandiera del Regno delle Due Sicilie catches the breeze

Special thanks to Villabate Alba Pasticceria for providing refreshments for the marchers. Every year they go above and beyond with their generosity

I enjoyed a classic Arancini (rice ball) and...

...a cannoli, a Villabate Alba specialty

Afterward, Lucrezia, Oronzo and I joined Pio and Joe for some wine and sfincione outside Caffe Italia (6921 18th Avenue)

Photo of the Week: The Farnese Atlas

The Farnese Atlas is a 2nd-century Roman copy of a Hellenistic sculpture of the Titan burdened with a celestial sphere. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. 

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

A Look at the 90th Annual Feast of Saint Sebastian in Montclair, New Jersey

Evviva San Sebastiano Martire!

Photos courtesy of Joe Santoro

Thank you Joe for sharing your wonderful photos from Sunday’s Feast of Saint Sebastian at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montclair, New Jersey. Evviva San Sebastiano Martire!

After Mass, St. Sebastian is placed on the ornate vara

Outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Sadly, the beautiful church is scheduled to close on Friday, July 1st
and merge with the Church of the Immaculate Conception

There was a tremendous turnout for St. Sebastian

Devotees offer the Saint large devotional candles

Our friends from the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Fraternal Society
and St. Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey show their support

Donations are pinned on to the Saint

Our pal Ennio celebrating his beloved patron

A devotee displays the relic of St. Sebastian

After the procession, Fr. Joe gave a final blessing inside the clubhouse

A close up of the statue