Statues of saints line the streets of South Philadelphia. (Photo: St. Paul Parish)
Come the third weekend in May, everyone in South Philadelphia is Italian thanks to the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival. Over two days, you’ll enjoy a wealth of sights, sounds and smells that rival the best of cultural extravaganzas. This joy feeds the soul far more than delicious, ethical food.
As the clock strikes 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, the procession of saints will once again see the twin parishes of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi and St. Paul responding to the prayerful needs of the larger community. I’ll make it.
“It’s a great way to keep us connected,” Linda Berenato said, as she and her sister Kathy Peditto help promote the faith at St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, the first Catholic Italian parish in the United States. He talked about the joy he felt. “We were born into this tradition, so we love preserving it.”
According to the Facebook line description, the business, which runs through Italian markets, has been around since at least the 1920s.
In this undated photo, a statue is displayed during a procession of saints in South Philadelphia. (Photo: Linda Berenato)
Berenato explained that her family participates in many of the treks, which usually begin at 712 Montrose Street. This tradition was started by her great-grandfather Luigi Di Santo, who grew up in Marsico Nuovo, Italy, with a devotion to San She Jeanne Ario. Her relatives have treated the saint’s statue with reverence for decades. The friars are eager to add more steps and further historic preservation once Father Paul Garrett, pastor of St. Paul’s Church, finishes the 10 a.m. Mass.
“It never gets old,” Peditto said. On Monday night, she played a key role in preparing the statues that will make up the procession. “I always look forward to seeing new faces in the audience because this day is really important to everyone.”
This year, the Saint Rita of Cassia statue will be added to the lineup of saints.
Given the Augustinian identity of the United Church in South Philadelphia’s Bella Vista neighborhood, Father Garrett said he wanted to incorporate a statue of St. Rita, an Augustinian saint known as the healer, reconciler, and peacemaker. said it makes perfect sense. The saint’s addition is timely, especially given her feast day on May 22, which is celebrated at the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cassia in South Philadelphia.
“she [St. Rita of Cascia] We definitely earned VIP status,” Father Garrett said.
The event will begin at St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi Church, where May 25th is the patron’s feast day, before heading to Ninth Street and Washington Avenue for an Italian Market Blessing and at St. Paul Parish. It ends with a benediction. .
After the festival-goers had dispersed and the 20 statues depicting saints, including St. Joseph, St. Pio, and St. Therese of the Infant Jesus, had been successfully completed, Berenato and Peditto went to August’s great-grandfather’s house. attention to travel. Homeland. He was excited to be able to participate in the Feast of Saint Jeanneario, 120 years after his relatives came to the United States to spread gratitude to his favorite saint throughout South Philadelphia. ing.
“It’s going to be very humbling to go there,” Berenato said.
“It’s also emotional,” Peditto added. “First of all, I’m excited to see how our Philadelphia procession goes because it’s something that will be important to us for generations.”
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The procession of the saints will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19, at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, 712 Montrose Street. Learn more about the Italian Market tradition here.
