June 30, 2016

A Look at the 2016 Feast of San Vito Martire in Mamaroneck, New York

Viva San Vito!
Photos courtesy of Cav. Charles Sant'Elia
Thanks Charles for sharing your wonderful photos from Sunday's (June 26th) Feast of San Vito Martire celebrated at St. Vito – Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mamaroneck, New York. Evviva San Vito!
The Color Guard led the way
(Above and below) The procession wends its way through the neighborhood
The Giglio Band kept the festivities rolling

June 29, 2016

Princess Maria Carolina di Borbone Named Honorary President of the Comitati Due Sicilie

Photo courtesy of Comitati Due Sicilie
Congratulations to HRH Princess Maria Carolina di Borbone, Duchess of Palermo and Calabria, on being named Honorary President of the Comitati Due Sicilie. On Sunday, June 26th, representatives of the CDS presented the Hereditary Princess with a plaque, recognizing her as the rightful heir to HRH Prince Carlo Maria di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, Duke of Castro, head of the Royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilie. The ceremony took place at the beautiful Casina Vanvitelliana (the historic royal hunting lodge on Lake Fusaro) in Bacoli (NA), during the Royal Family's visit to Naples and Nola. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

June 27, 2016

Photo of the Week: Telamon at the Forum Baths

A telamon in the 1st century BC tepidarium (warm bath) at Pompeii
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

June 26, 2016

Compra Sud — Enotria Translations

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June 23, 2016

Happy Birthday Princess Maria Carolina!

HRH was born in Rome in 2003
Photo courtesy of Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie
Happy Birthday Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duchess of Palermo and Calabria! May life's brightest joys illuminate your path, and may each day's journey bring you closer to your dreams! Auguri!

June 21, 2016

A look at the 2016 Festa di San Pio da Pietrelcina in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Viva San Pio!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
Scenes from Saturday's (June 18th) Festa di San Pio da Pietrelcina at St. Dominic R.C. Church at 2001 Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn, New York.
After Mass, devotees pin money on to ribbons and the statue's cape
(Above and below) Members of the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata joined Caduti Superego in the celebration
Msgr. David Cassata led the procession through the neighborhood 
Devotees sang a prayed for nearly two hours
The procession makes its way down 18th Ave.
Michael Aromando and the Metropolitan Festival Band
(Above and below) We briefly stopped at the Cadutti Superga Soccer Club for some cold water and the benediction
An outdoor shrine was erected outside the club
The procession saunters down 20th Avenue
Back at St. Dominic's, celebrants sing one last hymn
before the statue is returned to its place of honor inside the church 
Votive candles are lit inside the church vestibule
Addendum:
Although nothing has been confirmed as of this time, there are rumors a new feast in honor of San Francesco di Paola at St. Dominic R.C. Church is in the works. We are excited by the prospect and will keep you up to date with any news or developments.

Viva San Francesco di Paola!

June 20, 2016

Visiting Sant'Antonio's Relic (and More) in NYC's Historic Little Italy

Reliquary containing a first-class relic of Sant'Antonio di Padova
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
After work Thursday night I stopped by Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter St.) in NYC's historic Little Italy to venerate Saint Anthony’s relic, on loan from Padua, Italy. Visiting five different churches in celebration of the Feast of St. Anthony (June 13th), this was the fourth tour of the saint's relic in the archdiocese in two years. I was lucky enough to see the relics before at Most Precious Blood Church in Bath Beach, Brooklyn in 2013 and at the Basilica of Sant'Antonio in Padua in 2007. It continues to be a spiritually rewarding and edifying experience. 
Sant'Antonio at Most Precious Blood Church
Saint Anthony’s feast day was recently celebrated at the church by the Society of St. Anthony of Giovinazzo. Their statue of the saint was still on display on the bye-altar with flowers and ribbons.
Life size statue of San Gennaro at Le Mela Ristorante
Afterward, I met up with some friends at Le Mela Ristorante (167 Mulberry St.) for a glass of wine and to see the newly restored statue of San Gennaro. 
Ernie Rossi (with window sign) proudly promotes southern Italian products
Enjoying the mild night air, we strolled around Little Italy for a bit before stopping by E. Rossi and Company (193 Grand Street) to see our good friend Ernie. We were happy to see he received a certificate of appreciation from the Comitati Due Sicilie USA for his hard work and longtime support of the southern Italian community in New York City. Congratulations Ernie on your well-deserved honor!
The Re Ferdinando sandwich at Margherita NYC
Getting hungry, we took our leave and moved on to nearby Margherita NYC, Pizzeria Napoletana (197 Grand St.) for a couple of cocktails and dinner. I enjoyed the delicious Re Ferdinando, a large sandwich stuffed with sweet sausage, broccoli di rape and scamorza, named in honor of HRH King Ferdinand of the Two Sicilies.
Walking off our meal, we took a short passeggiata around Little Italy. Taking in the sites, we talked for a while about art, politics and life in general before calling it a night.

June 19, 2016

Photo of the Week: L’Obelisco Carolino di Bitonto

The Obelisk Carolino in Bitonto, Apulia, commemorates HRH King Charles of Bourbon’s victory over the Austrian Habsburgs at the Battle of Bitonto in the Kingdom of Naples on May 25, 1734. The 60 foot high monument was designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano. Photo courtesy of Andrew Giordano

June 17, 2016

Scenes from the 2016 Festa di Sant'Antonio di Padova in SoHo, New York

Evviva Sant'Antonio!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
A look at Monday's (June 13th) Festa di Sant'Antonio at the beautiful Shrine Church of St. Anthony of Padua at 154 Sullivan Street in Manhattan. 
Devotees pin donations on to the saint
An explosion of confetti signals the beginning of the procession
David Rosa leads the way with the standard
(Above and below) The procession wends its way through the neighborhood
The Red Mike Festival Band
James, Toni and Donna did a fantastic job
After the procession, St. Anthony is returned 
to his place of honor beside the altar
Celebrants continued to pin donations inside the church
Flowers are offered to the Saint
The beautifully decorated altar
Its always great to see our pal Frankie and his artisan salumi
Afterward, we visited Song' e Napule Pizzeria for our celebratory meal
I enjoyed a delicious plate of Paccheri alla Genovese, a classic Neapolitan dish

June 16, 2016

A Few Pix From the 2016 Feast of Santa Maria Mater Domini in Clifton, New Jersey

Evviva Maria! 
Photos courtesy of Joseph Santoro
Thanks Joe for sharing your wonderful photos of the 2016 Feast of Santa Maria Mater Domini at Holy Face Monastery in Clifton, New Jersey (Sunday, June 12th). Evviva Maria!
The color guard are ready to go
(Above and below) After Mass, members of the Societa Frainese di Mutuo Soccorso process around the monastery grounds 
A close-up of the society's standard
Afterward, partygoers enjoyed a fantastic luncheon at the picnic grounds