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Health & Fitness

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and September 11

Our Lady of Sorrow shows us that it is appropriate to mourn while at the same time never losing our faith.

Carroll Gardens is one of the oldest Italian communities in New York City. In 1900 there were more Italians living in Carroll Gardens and along Columbia Street then anywhere else in the country.

Today, much has changed but there continues to be visible reminders of the great influence the Italian community has had and continues to have on Carroll Gardens. One such event, which has become identifiably Carroll Gardens, is the Annual Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows or Maria SS. Addolorata.

Depicted as a woman dressed all in black with a long black veil, this image of Mary the mother of Jesus, symbolizes the hurt that she as a mother felt at the death of her Son. While there are many different interpretations of Mary under this title, this particular image was transported from the town of Mola di Bari, Italy over 60 years ago, by the people of that town.  

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Since 1948, the people of Mola di Bari have celebrated their identity as Italians and Catholics with the annual feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The highlight of the annual feast has always been the procession of the statue of Maria SS. Addolorata through the community culminating in a fireworks display and Mass at Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen Church on Summit Street.

This year, the annual procession will be held on September 11. Brooklyn’s first Italian Roman Catholic Parish will host the Congrega Maria S.S. Addolorata and the people of Mola Di Bari as they honor the feast of their hometown patron saint with a traditional Italian street Procession and Mass. While this is not the first time that the feast falls on September 11, this year has become extra special as it marks the tenth anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001.

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The Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Sorrow is an example to us all of the pain and suffering felt when we lose someone we love in a sudden and violent way. She shows us that it is appropriate to mourn while at the same time never losing our faith. The procession this year will be particularly somber as we all remember the great loss experienced ten years ago.

From 1948 until 1993 this annual procession was accompanied by a traditional Italian Street festival including food, rides and games. The original feast occupied Henry Street from Summit Street to Kane Street. In the later years it was held on Court Street from President Street to Fourth Place. While the organization has been attempting to revive the street festival aspect of the feast, a current moratorium on multi-block/multi-day permits has prevented it.

Although many fondly remember the days of the street festival, the beauty of what remains is the truly religious and social aspect of the celebration. While other Italian street festivals have become tourist attractions of what was, or money making vehicles, the feast of Maria SS. Addolroata is still about the same thing that it was in 1948, continuing tradition and celebrating faith and community.

The statue of Our Lady or Sorrows will be carried from the church at 3 p.m. and brought through the streets upon the shoulders of the faithful. Accompanied by men and women devoted to Our Lady, the procession will travel throughout the neighborhood stopping for food and drink. The procession will return to Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen Church at 7 p.m. for a brief fireworks display and Mass in Italian.

The committee hopes that all Carroll Gardens residents take this opportunity to remember September 11 in their own way and invite all people to join them in procession. For more information on the feast of Maria SS. Addolorata, including a map of the procession route, visit www.mariaaddolorata.com

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