AUBURN - The members of the Italian Heritage Society took tradition one step further Sunday when they invited St. Francis of Assisi Church to celebrate its 100th anniversary while the groups honored St. Joseph's Day.
Nearly 300 people came out for the annual celebration that commemorates the Feast of St. Joseph. During the Middle Ages, March brought a drought to Western Sicily. People prayed to Joseph for rain before their crops failed. As the rain came, people promised generations would honor him with a feast.
“I would like to see my children pass on the traditions. We have had five generations in this church, and hopefully there will be five more,” John Camardo said. Camardo is chairman of the St. Francis committee. “We want the church to stay vibrant.”
Each year, the IHS invites a different priest to partake in the ceremony. The Rev. Eugene DoBosz of St. Francis of Assisi was honored to officiate this year's St. Joseph's Day. The Polish priest appreciated the celebration of the mainly Italian holiday.
John Camardo's great-grandfather, was one of two men mainly responsible for founding the church in 1907. Now, his family wants to pass on the traditions from their ancestors' time and country.
Besides the significance with the church, the holy day and its close ties with Italy can help maintain people's personal heritage.
“Besides a blessing from St. Joseph, I'm hoping for a preservation of the tradition, along with the social (side) by getting together,” said Joseph Camardo, chairman of the Italian Heritage Society, and John's father.
As organizer of the event, Joseph Camardo has seen it grow from a small potluck with an intimate service. It since has grown to the larger scale gala, but Camardo wants to extend it even more by attracting young adults.
“I like the idea of preserving traditions and passing them on,” he said, adding his grandchildren were involved in the society's celebration.
A procession, including a statue of Joseph and Jesus, traveled through the hundreds attending Mass in the Holiday Inn, and wound its way across the hall where people ate dinner. Later in the evening, the Rocco and Paolo Orchestra was to entertain the crowd.
The event adds to the cultural identity of many Italian-Americans and helps show them their heritage, IHS financial secretary Mary Townsend said. She added that people from different backgrounds attend the annual feast, not just people of Italian descent.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
“I would like to see my children pass on the traditions. We have had five generations in this church, and hopefully there will be five more,” John Camardo said. Camardo is chairman of the St. Francis committee. “We want the church to stay vibrant.”
Each year, the IHS invites a different priest to partake in the ceremony. The Rev. Eugene DoBosz of St. Francis of Assisi was honored to officiate this year's St. Joseph's Day. The Polish priest appreciated the celebration of the mainly Italian holiday.
John Camardo's great-grandfather, was one of two men mainly responsible for founding the church in 1907. Now, his family wants to pass on the traditions from their ancestors' time and country.
Besides the significance with the church, the holy day and its close ties with Italy can help maintain people's personal heritage.
“Besides a blessing from St. Joseph, I'm hoping for a preservation of the tradition, along with the social (side) by getting together,” said Joseph Camardo, chairman of the Italian Heritage Society, and John's father.
As organizer of the event, Joseph Camardo has seen it grow from a small potluck with an intimate service. It since has grown to the larger scale gala, but Camardo wants to extend it even more by attracting young adults.
“I like the idea of preserving traditions and passing them on,” he said, adding his grandchildren were involved in the society's celebration.
A procession, including a statue of Joseph and Jesus, traveled through the hundreds attending Mass in the Holiday Inn, and wound its way across the hall where people ate dinner. Later in the evening, the Rocco and Paolo Orchestra was to entertain the crowd.
The event adds to the cultural identity of many Italian-Americans and helps show them their heritage, IHS financial secretary Mary Townsend said. She added that people from different backgrounds attend the annual feast, not just people of Italian descent.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
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Viva San Giuseppe wrote on Apr 2, 2007 8:07 PM:
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