Freesia DeNaples Photo
Curtains were pulled aside, and the image of a saint emerged.
“Viva Saint Andrea!” called out Bishop Peter Rosazza, to cheers from the crowd.
The crowd was assembled Thursday night on the grounds of the St. Andrew the Apostle Society at 515 Chapel St. in Wooster Square. It had just finished a parade to kick off the society’s 115th Italian Festa, a joyous annual ritual in New Haven that celebrates the city’s Italian heritage and the patron saint of the magical seaside town to which many families trace their roots, Amalfi. (The fest resumes Friday at 5 p.m., then Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.)
Rosazza blessed the fest, and then the four-night outdoor event got underway, filled with music, carnival rides, socializing, and traditional culinary treats like fried dough, pastries, Italian ice, meatball grinders, fried ravioli and calzones.
“The idea is just getting everybody together and making sure they have some place to go,” said society Vice-President Larry Amendola said. “We like to stay active.”
The parade was led by six members of society …
… who were followed by the Saint Mary School Fife and Drum of Branford.
“Saint Andrew was great, because he followed Jesus, and he was faithful,” Rosazza explained to the crowd. “Saint Andrew wants that of us: that we be faithful, that we follow Jesus, and as Mother Teresa said, ‘Jesus doesn’t ask us to be successful, rather to be faithful.’ Amen.”
The crowd echoed his amen.
Then the statue was unveiled. People lined up to pin a donation and to say a prayer to Saint Andrew the Apostle.
“It’s all about Saint Andrew. About the Italian traditions, about the people who came from Amalfi years and years ago, and we keep the tradition going from our grandparents to our parents down to us, and hopefully to our kids,” said Phyllis Dabbraccio, a member of the society. “Everybody’s welcome.”
Aside from food, which seemed to be a crowd favorite, there were also stands for Saint Andrew the Apostle Society memorabilia, and tables selling pins and posters .
Sally Amore sat at a table with her daughter, who was eating a piece of fried dough that looked almost as big as her head.
“We come here every year,” Amore said. “My mom brought me here when I was younger, and now I like to bring my daughter. It’s a fun tradition.”
Those guys in the fancy costumes are Knights of Columbus, although some may be members of the St. Anthony group as well.
A friend and Grand Knight of our Council is in the center of the group,
Looking good, Howard Tomlin.