Specials

The Saint Rocco Society of Potenza was founded in 1889 by a group of Southern Italian immigrants coming from the Basilicata region.  The society’s first location was  Saint Joachim’s Church on Roosevelt Street in the heart of New York’s Little

Italy. After the demolition of the Church in 1959, the Society moved to Saint Joseph’s  Church on Monroe Street.
Since the year of its birth, the Saint Rocco Society has always celebrated the Saint’s day with a
religious feast followed by a procession. Many believers - not only from Potenza, but from the whole South of Italy-  used to join, and still join the feast in huge numbers.

The authentic symbol of this celebration is the Statue of Saint Rocco that is carried in procession by the Members of the Society.

Each Saint Rocco’s day starts with a Mass and carries on with a three hour procession in which the Saint, covered with the money offered by his faithful, “walks” along the neighborhood of the Church. During the procession an Italian street band plays traditional Italian songs. Another important element of the Feast  is the “candelabra” (“u cinte” in dialect), a composition of over 200 candles put on a wooden frame decorated with three-coloured ribbons and flowers and topped with a small image of the Saint.

The actual President of the Society is Stephen LaRocca, who started his work with the Society eight years ago. Stephen and the former President, Angela Carnevale, have both shaped  the modern aspect of the Feast, that even if very ancient,  is attended by an increasing number of people. The faithful, in fact, come from New York City’s five borroughs, from Connecticut, New Jersey and Canada to visit Saint Rocco on his holy day.

But, the very surprising side of this celebration is the presence, year by year, of many young people that want to renew a strong link with their roots.

By Andrea Riccio
Photos by Tommaso Cuccia