{"id":12,"date":"2025-06-12T20:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T20:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2026-08-19T22:02:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T22:02:51","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/?page_id=12","title":{"rendered":"The History Of Our Feast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Feast in Mussomeli<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Feast has a fascinating history. On September 8, 1530 a poor paralytic was instantaneously cured on the outskirts of the town of Mussomeli. Simultaneously, just below the miraculous site there appeared on a large rock the image of the Blessed Mother. Immediately, Mary began to be venerated as \u201cOur Lady of the Miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after, many more favors and miracles through her intercession, Mary began to be called \u201cOur Lady of Miracles\u201d (La Beddra Matri<\/em>, Maria Santissima dei Miracoli). It is under this title that from the 16th Century, she has become the spiritual patroness of Mussomeli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not long after the original miracle, a shrine was erected on the spot. At the beginning of the 18th Century, the Dominican Friars built a magnificent, baroque church called Saint Dominic (San Domenico<\/em>), which in 1947 became the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles (Santuario Diocesano Maria SS. dei Miracoli<\/em>). The centerpiece of the Shrine is the breathtaking statue of Our Lady of Miracles (carved by Francesco Biancardi in 1866). The crypt preserves the original rock with Mary\u2019s miraculous image, called la Pietra del Miracolo<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year the “First Octave” (Prima Ottava) or half of the Feast begins on August 31, culminating with the Feast Day itself on September 8, the anniversary of the miraculous cure of the paralytic beggar. It is the town\u2019s most jubilant day of the year, beginning at 2:30 am with marching bands walking throughout the town, playing the Ninnareddra<\/em>, or Lullaby to Mary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highlight of the Feast, after the several Solemn Masses throughout the day – the first starting at 5 am – is the moving evening procession. At 8 pm, the statue of Our Lady, decked out with a beautiful silk mantle and bouquets of flowers, and laden with an array of gold jewelry offered by the faithful for graces received, leaves the Shrine. The image is reverently carried through the streets amid the entire population. Young men vie with one another to help bear the venerated figure. Countless worshippers accompany the statue in prayer, many barefoot, as an act of devotion. Precious tapestries hang from the balconies and windows of homes to honor the passing statue. The procession ends at the Shrine around 10 pm. The festivities continue for another week, the second half of the feast called the Seconda Ottava<\/em>, with prayers and devotions, combined with entertainment, culminating in the second procession of the Madonna, on the evening of September 15 (occasionally September 14). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of emigrants, who, for economic reasons, have left for other parts of Italy, as well as various European countries, American and Australia, return faithfully with their children and grandchildren each year to celebrate the Feast. The town becomes a veritable Pentecost, with young children and grandchildren of visiting emigrant Mussomelese conversing in so many different languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the people of Mussomeli, Our Lady of Miracles is a symbol of everything good, sound, holy and beautiful. Little wonder her annual Feast is such a treasured tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The Feast in Buffalo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around the beginning of the 1900\u2019s, immigrants from Mussomeli to the Buffalo area brought with them a fervent devotion to their spiritual patroness, Maria Santissima dei Miracoli<\/em> (Our Lady of Miracles). The history of the local Feast divides into the following periods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Pre-History (1900-29): Simple Beginnings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the turn of the 20th Century, an annual Mass was organized on a Sunday close to September 8, the date of the Feast in Mussomeli, at both St. Anthony of Padua Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (on Dante Place, in “the Hooks.”) According to records at St. Anthony\u2019s Church, a Mass was celebrated there for the Feast as early as 1902.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


First Period (1930-49): Transplanting of the Feast from Mussomeli<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first more solemn observance was organized in 1930 by six women immigrants from Mussomeli: Grazia Giovino, Ignazia Giovino, Vincenzina Mendola, Salvatrice Nola, Maria Pennacchio and Francesca Territo.

Soon, the major organization of the annual Feast was shared by the men of the Mussomelese community, led by Salvatore Giudice and Vincenzo Vullo. These and many others went door to door seeking donations of fellow Mussomelese to help defray the cost of the annual Feast. Extant, but incomplete records mention the following: Alfonso Amico, Paul Amico, Vincent Amico, Vincent Castrogiovanni, Luigi Costello, Patsy Lanzalaco, Vincent Lanzalaco and Michelangelo Saladino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Feast began to be observed at St. Anthony\u2019s Church on the second Sunday in September. On the vigil, Solemn Vespers were prayed. The Mass was in Latin, and the sermon for many years was only in Italian. Before the Mass there was a solemn procession from St. Anthony\u2019s Church down Seventh Street to Jersey Street and then back to St. Anthony\u2019s via Busti Avenue. Led by the beautiful banner depicting Our Lady of Miracles, men, women and children proudly marched to the accompaniment of the rousing music of a marching band. The band, standing just outside the open doors of the church, sounded a loud strain of stirring notes to accompany the consecration of the Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tasty breakfast in St. Anthony\u2019s Church Hall followed the Mass. The evening featured a sumptuous dinner dance with nostalgic Italian melodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This period saw the commissioning of the aforementioned banner in addition to a beautiful statue-replica and mantle of Our Lady of Miracles. To this day, the statue is placed in the sanctuary for the annual Feast; at the Mass the banner leads the procession in and out of the church; the mantle envelopes the statue of Our Lady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This first period of the solemnization of the Feast was in effect a modest, but authentic version of the Feast as celebrated in Mussomeli. It was clearly a beautiful Italian import.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Second Period (1950-69): A Bridge to American Adaptation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By now, many of the original immigrants from Mussomeli had died, to be replaced gradually by those born in this country. On the one hand, many elements remained, such as the door-to-door collection and the breakfast in the church hall following the Mass. On the other hand, there were stirrings of change. Certain features gradually disappeared: Solemn Vespers on the Vigil, the outdoor procession and the dinner dance. In addition, innovations were introduced. The sermon began to be delivered in both Italian and English. The eight Buffalo-born priests of Mussomelese parents and grandparents started taking turns as main celebrants of the Mass. The younger members, still maintaining interest and even enthusiasm, began viewing the Feast more and more through Americanized eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was during this period that the statue of Our Lady was moved to the vestibule of St. Anthony\u2019s Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Third Period (1970-2025): American Adaptation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, most of the original members had died, but the number of participants in the Feast kept increasing. In 1970 the Planning Committee wisely decided to add six younger members, four men and two women. In successive years, additional younger members, roughly divided between men and women, have joined the Committee, as older members passed away, or chose to become “emeritus members.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this period, the breakfasts became luncheons, transferred from the church hall to more spacious and elegant settings such as the Statler Golden Ballroom and the Buffalo Convention Center. Musicians played Italian favorites during the luncheon. Each year beginning in 1970, several (usually two or three) members and their spouses were singled out at the luncheon as \u201cHonorees,\u201d with the reading of a biography and a tribute. For many years the script was composed and delivered by the late Rose LaMastra, followed by Elizabeth Arnone Young, and Susan Ervolina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other features were added. A letter was mailed to each member of the society with a detailed invitation. The door-to-door collection was replaced by a free-will offering at the entrance to the luncheon. The Feast was publicized by the Buffalo News and other local community papers, as well as by radio spots; TV stations aired segments of the Mass on the evening and nightly news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year, St. Anthony\u2019s Church was filled for the Feast. Those participating in the liturgy were practically all Mussomelese: priest celebrants, homilists, cantors, readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers and ushers. The homily came to be delivered mainly in English. At the Mass, an elaborate printed program was distributed, mentionining significant events in the Mussomelese community: births and baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, weddings, notable wedding anniversaries and notable anniversaries of the priests. Also mentioned for special prayers are the sick and those who have died during the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1980 the fiftieth anniversary of the solemn celebration of the Feast was observed in a special way, not only with the usual festive Mass and luncheon, but also with a sumptuous banquet in the Statler Golden Ballroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1983 Father Charles Amico and Monsignor Richard Amico composed a new prayer to Our Lady of Miracles in English (reprinted under \u201cPrayer of Devotion\u201d on this website).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 9, 2001, the Bishop of the Diocese of Caltanissetta (which includes the town of Mussomeli), Bishop Alfredo Maria Garsia, accompanied by his secretary, Msgr. Gaetano Canalella, was the Principal Celebrant of the Feast Mass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 11, 2005, the 75th Anniversary, Bishop Edward Kmiec presided at the Feast Mass concelebrated by all of the active Mussomelesi priests, and a special commemorative booklet was published and distributed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2017, the Society was recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ensuring that donations would be tax-deductible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth Period (2025 – Present): Renewal <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the challenges poised by the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-21), and the passing of the Society’s longtime spiritual leader Fr. Charles Amico, PhD, in 2023, the members of the Planning Committee faced an uncertain feature for the feast, and rose to the occasion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While several older members who had joined the Committee in the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s, chose to become emeriti<\/em>, a number of younger members, including children and grandchildren of more recent (1960’s – 1980’s) Mussomelese emigrants, would step forward to help with the organization and celebration of the feast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As adaptation and creativity has always secured the feast’s success, we chose to adapt again to the current reality, by deciding to celebrate the feast on the second Saturday of September instead of a Sunday. This move immediately proved successful, as did switching to an Italian family dinner following the Saturday Mass, instead of the usual Sunday luncheon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already, after considerable interest was expressed, there are plans to restore a brief procession in honor of Our Lady of Miracles, and embrace this timeless tradition again, after several decades’ absence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although most similar festivals have practically disappeared, the annual Mussomelese Feast in honor of Our Lady of Miracles actually improves each year as a living expression of Christian faith and Italian-American culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will work togethe to ensure that our feast continues to grow and improve, and remains the largest annual Italian-American religious celebration in Western New York. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We look foward to our 100th anniversary in 2030! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Feast in Mussomeli The Feast has a fascinating history. On September 8, 1530 a poor paralytic was instantaneously cured on the outskirts of the town of Mussomeli. Simultaneously, just below the miraculous site there appeared on a large rock the image of the Blessed Mother. Immediately, Mary began to be venerated as \u201cOur Lady […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":364,"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions\/364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/mussomeliwny.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}