Our Italian Feasts


 

Three principal Feasts are celebrated each year in Holy Saviour Parish. They represent the Patrons of the principal places in Italy from which our people and their descendants trace their ancestry. These Feasts are:
 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Patroness of those who settled in our area from Casalduni and Benevento.This Feast is celebrated near July 16 at our Mission Church in Black Horse, Plymouth Township, which bears the name of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Santissimo Salvatore, The Holy Saviour: Patron of those who come from the town of Montella, in Campania, where Our Lord appeard as a young boy on the mountain top of the town. Celebrated on the Sunday near August 6.

Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca: Patroness of those who came to Norristown from the town of Sciacca in Sicily. This Feast is celebrated near August 15.

The Feast of Saint Emidio, Patron of those who come from Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region of Italy, is also celebrated in our Parish, on the first Sunday of August at the 9:30 Mass, without a street procession in his honor.

 

2012 Feast Dates

 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Sunday, July 15: 10AM Solemn Mass at Mission Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fairfield Road, Plymouth Township, followed by Street Procession through streets of that section of the Parish.

Holy Saviour: Sunday, August 12: 11:30AM Solemn Mass in English and Italian at Holy Saviour Church, followed by Street Procession.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday Evenings, outdoor Festival on grounds of Holy Saviour Club, across the street from the Church.

Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca: Sunday, August 19: 11:30AM Solemn Mass in English and Italian at Holy Saviour Church, followed by Street Procession.
Sunday afternoon and evening, Indoor Festival, sponsored by the MSS Club, in Savior Hall, Walnut and Airy Streets (around the corner from the Church).

Useful Links
 

Some of those visiting this site may be doing historical or genealogical research. We add here some links to various websites, especially those linked to the places in Italy, and their Shrines, from which many people emigrated to Norristown:
 

For the town of Sciacca and the Shrine of the Madonna del Soccorso:
http://www.vivisciacca.com/pagdesktop/madonnadelsoccorso/madonna%20del%20soccorso.html
http://www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/263375/Italy/Sciacca/Basilica-Santa-Maria-del-Soccorso#basics-content

For the town of Montella and the Shrine of the Holy Saviour:
http://www.santuariosalvatore.org/

For the town of Casalduni:
http://en.comuni-italiani.it/062/015/
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casalduni