Photo of the Week: A View of Monte Vesuvio from the Certosa di San Martino, Napoli

Photo courtesy of Rosanna Minervini

Pilgrimage to the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno in Naples

Much appreciated souvenirs from the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno:
Santa Patrizia prayer card and pamphlet describing the life of the saint

My dear consorella Rosanna Minervini recently returned to her ancestral homeland of southern Italy to connect with family and explore her rich culture. While in Naples, she visited the Baroque Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno (Church of St. Gregory of Armenia), the repository of Santa Patrizia’s relics. Knowing my strong devotion to the Saint, Rosanna was kind enough to bring me back a couple of souvenirs and share a few photos she took inside the beautiful church.

The Santa Patrizia chapel

Ornate organ pipes above the chapels

The nave

Placard with prayer to Santa Patrizia

A Look at the 2018 Feast of Santa Rosalia in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Evviva Santa Rosalia!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Despite running for eleven days (August 16th thru August 26th), I’ve been so busy with work and family of late I thought I would never get to go to the “18th Avenue Feast” in honor of Santa Rosalia; but thankfully Thursday evening I was able to stop by and venerate our glorious patroness and enjoy some of the festivities with a few close friends.

The procession with float and statue will begin at the outdoor chapel on 18th Avenue and 72nd Street on Sunday, August 26th at 3:00pm. Mass will be celebrated in Italian at St. Dominic's Church (2001 Bay Ridge Parkway) at 4:00pm.

Festive street lights line the avenue

John and Rosanna celebrate their faith and culture

Feast organizers acquired a beautiful statue of the saint
from the closed St. Rosalia Church (6301 14th Avenue)

(L) The new statue was placed in the outdoor chapel on 72nd St.
(R) The longtime processional statue stood beside the chapel

Our pal Angelo Timoneri with Gino, Charlie and Anthony 

After saying our prayers, we explored the festive fairgrounds

 I never miss an opportunity for Lucy's hot peppers and stigghiola

We stopped by Staten Island's very own Montalbano's of Rosebank
sausage stand for a few sandwiches

Delicious hot sausage smothered in sweet onions and peppers

A view of the fairgrounds from atop the ferris wheel 

After some fun rides and games we indulged our sweet tooth with some zeppoli

Naturally we made our obligatory stop at Villabate Alba Pasticceria
(7001 18th Ave.) for some espresso and baked iris

And finally, we cooled off with a little gelato from L'Artigiano

A Look at the 129th Annual Feast of Saint Rocco in Little Italy, New York (Part 3)

The Procession Continued and Dinner Party

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Scenes from Sunday’s 129th Annual Feast of St. Rocco at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy. (See Part 1, Mass and Opening Ceremony and Part 2, The Procession)

The procession makes its way through China Town and Little Italy

The color guard lead the way up Mulberry Street

(Above & below) Members and friends of the St. Rocco Society
of Potenza take turns carrying our beloved patron

Devotees Michael and Freddy show their support

Little Italy was hopping with enthusiasm for San Rocco

Stephen, Concetta, Bruno and Italo enjoying the festivities

After the procession, members of the St. Rocco Society
of Potenza pose for a commemorative photo

Peppino's from Bay Ridge generously donated
trays of delicious southern Italian fare 

Revelers danced the night away

(Above & below) Partygoers enjoyed a very competitive game of “pass the provolone,” a humorous take on “hot potato,” where the winner gets the cheese

(Above & below) A good time was had by all

Salvatore LaRocca was the big winner

Children help draw the raffle tickets

A Look at the 129th Annual Feast of Saint Rocco in Little Italy, New York (Part 2)

The Procession

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Scenes from Sunday’s 129th Annual Feast of St. Rocco at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy. (See Part 1, Mass and Opening Ceremony and Part 3, The Procession Continued and Dinner Party)

The expectant crowd erupts in elation as the saint descends the stairs

Laden with gold, money and ex-voto,
the procession departs Little Italy

Salvatore and Constantino did a terrific job
conveying the cinte, or candle house

Society standards add to the pageantry

Paul Tocci and family generously provided
beverages to thirsty participants 

(Above & below) Revelers dance the tarantella in the
rain outside the old Vanella Funeral Chapel 

Passing on the traditions to the next generation 

(Above & below) Members and friends of the St. Rocco Society
of Potenza take turns carrying our beloved patron

Locals and tourist enjoy the festivities 

Donations are pinned to the statue all along Mulberry Street

(Above & below) Family and friends celebrating their faith and culture 

(Above & below) A good time was had by all

Our friends from the St. Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey show their support

Our friends from the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata