Photo of the Week: Sculpture Above the Portal of the Cloister at Villa Rufolo, Ravello

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

New Music: 18th Century Neapolitan Flute Sonatas

New music that may be of interest to our readers.

• 18th Century Neapolitan Flute Sonatas by Renata Cataldi and Partenope Stravagante

Label: Dynamic
Release Date: June 15, 2018
Audio CD: $18.99
Number of Discs: 1

Available at Amazon.com

Read description

Celebrating the 2018 Feast of Santa Rita da Cascia in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Evviva Santa Rita!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Tuesday evening, I had the great pleasure of joining nearly 100 devotees at Saint Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, for the annual Feast of Santa Rita da Cascia and Tuesday Devotion to Sant’Antonio da Padova. Sponsored by the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata, attendees celebrated Mass, venerated the relic of Sant’Antonio, and processed in prayer around the parish with the statue of St. Rita. Festivities concluded with the distribution of blessed loaves of bread, some refreshments, and fellowship in the church auditorium.

(Above & below) Religious articles and roses were available for purchase 

Arriving early, I was able to offer reparation and venerate the saints.
(L-R) SS. Crocifiso di Ciminna and Santa Fara di Cinisi 

Before Mass, we participated in the weekly
Thirteen Tuesday devotion to Sant’Antonio da Padova

Lucrezia Nardulli led the evening’s novena prayer to Santa Rita

Members of the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata
show their devotion to Santa Rita 

Msgr. David Cassato celebrated Mass in English and Italian

(Above & below) Msgr. Cassato blesses the roses and baskets of bread

(L-R) After Mass, Lucrezia and Josephine led the procession from the church

(Above & below) The procession wends its way through the neighborhood

(Above & below) The ladies take turns carrying our beloved patroness 

Circling the parish, the procession saunters back to St. Athanasius

Members pose for a commemorative photo 

The blessed bread is distributed to the participants

Afterward, partygoers continued the celebration in the auditorium

Celebrating the 2018 Feast of the Madonna del Sacro Monte in Clifton, New Jersey

Evviva Maria!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Despite the menacing forecast, over two hundred pilgrims gathered at Holy Face Monastery in Clifton, New Jersey Sunday morning for the Feast of the Madonna del Sacro Monte. Thankfully, the rain never materialized and we all had a fantastic time celebrating our faith and culture.

(L.) John, Stephanie and Nicole affixed the crowns to the statue. (R.) HE Cav. John M. Viola of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George with cavalieri Vito Totino of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and John Napoli 

(Above & below) The Missa Cantata was celebrated by Fr. Anthony Mastroeni

The traditional Mass was sung by the outdoor chapels
of the Madonna del Sacro Monte and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Members of the Congregazione Maria Ss. del Sacro Monte
stand watch by the statue of the Blessed Mother 

(L-R) Beautiful mosaic and stain glass window inside the chapel

Vesting prayers for La Congregazione Maria Ss. del Sacro Monte
di Novi Velia Salerno di Jersey City, New Jersey 

After Mass, devotees carry the Blessed Mother along the monastery path

Fr. Mastroeni is escorted by servers and Knights 

With great pageantry, the procession circles the monastery three times

The Tony Neglia Band 

Ladies carried flowers and votive candles 

(L.) The festivities included traditional southern Italian music.
(R.) Devotees pin donations on to the statue

Afterward, revelers enjoyed a festive luncheon 

Our friends from the Sandu Manghesi del Cliento Club 

We enjoyed a terrific barbecue with all the fixins

I inhaled a tasty marinated sliced pork and peppers sandwich 

Ciro DiLorenzo sang all our favorite Neapolitan & Italian American songs

There was plenty of fresh air and fun games for kids... 

...and adults alike 

The ladies enjoyed a very competitive game of “pass the provolone,”
a humorous take on “hot potato,” where the winner gets the cheese

Photo of the Week: Monument to Sant'Antonino Abate in Sorrento

Statue of Sant'Antonino Abate di Sorrento, Piazza Sant'Antonino, Sorrento, Campania.  Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Walking the Walk: Chef Giuseppe Marrone Helps Provide Meals for the Homeless

Chef Giuseppe Marrone (r.) presents a heaping tray of fusilli all sorrentina to Cav. Anthony O'Boyle and Dama Francesca Tempesta

Many thanks to our dear friend Giuseppe Marrone, executive chef and proprietor of Acqua Restaurant (21 Peck Slip) in the South Street Seaport, for generously donating food to the Order of Malta’s monthly Bowery Outreach Walk, a grassroots charitable initiative organized by DM Francesca Tempesta to help feed the homeless. A man of great compassion and kindness, Giuseppe offered to help before I even finished asking. “I’ll make lasagna; ziti; whatever you need,” he volunteered. And true to his word, on the day of the walk he prepared enough food to feed some fifty people! We are truly grateful for Giuseppe’s continued support (with this and other projects) and his passion to help the “Malta Walks” make a difference. Thank you and God bless.

Anyone interested in supporting this noble endeavor can contact the Order of Malta Auxiliary at nycaux@orderofmaltaamerican.org or call 917-566-3937. For additional information, the Order can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/maltaauxiliarynyc.

ACQUA Restaurant & Wine Bar
21 Peck Slip @ Water Street
New York, New York 10038
Tel 212.349.4433
www.acquarestaurantnyc.com/

Ali Ribelli Edizioni Publish Several Books by Antonio Ciano in English

New titles that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon.com 

• Kingdom of the Two Sicilies by Antonio Ciano 

Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Publication Date: May 3, 2018 
Paperback: $12.00
Language: English
Pages: 68 

Read description

• Massacres of the Italian Risorgimento by Antonio Ciano 

Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Publication Date: March 4, 2018
Paperback: $12.00
Language: English
Pages: 140 

Read description

• Southern Italy from 1830 to 1946 by Antonio Ciano

Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Publication Date: May 3, 2018 
Paperback: $9.49
Language: English
Pages: 60 

Read description

Click here to see more books

Photo of the Week: Terracotta Statuette of Hera Nursing, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum

Hera nursing (4th Century B.C.), Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum. Terracotta statuettes of the goddess enthroned, accentuating her function as kourotrophos, or child nurturer, were commonly used as votive offerings during pregnancies (Photo by New York Scugnizzo)

Compra Sud — Lucrezia's Favors

Let's support those who keep our traditions and folkways alive   

* Our recommendations will be unsolicited, and only from our personal experience. No second hand suggestions will be made.

Evviva San Vito! A Look at the 101st Annual Feast of San Vito Martire in Montclair, New Jersey

San Vito Martire, glorious patron of Aquilonia, Avelino.
Photos courtesy of Raymond Guarini

Thank you Raymond Guarini of Italian Enclaves for sharing your wonderful pictures from Sunday's 101st Annual Feast of San Vito Martire at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (94 Pine Street) in Montclair, New Jersey.

We encourage our readers to visit Italian Enclaves, a photo catalogue of Italian enclaves in the 21st Century, and their Twitter and Facebook pages, which are updated daily with information about Italian American history, folklore, and religious and cultural traditions.

Devotees had the opportunity to venerate the relic of San Vito 

A look inside beautiful Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

After Mass, the celebration continued at the S. Vito Martire Social Club

(Above & below) Friends & family gather at the clubhouse for a celebratory meal

Prayer cards were distributed

The Club Aquilonese San Vito Martire Standard