Hi to all.Just a little note to let you know that the feast of St Gerrad is still going strong. As some of you may know I drive a tour bus for a living and had a trip to st. Lucy's for the feast. It was nice to see the old neighborhood even if it was just a fleeting moment.It was too bad that the trip wasn't a day later and I could've joined you for the visit to St. Rose.I do know that the zeppoles and sausage sandwich brought back fond taste bud memories. Looking forward to see everyone soon.
Did anyone ever walk with the saint through the streets of Newark? I had aunts that would push the saint for three days and walk barefoot.I remember the blankets of money people would wrap around him.One time out of nowhere a little black dog with a little spot of white at his neck ran to me during the walk I picked him up and carried him all the way back to the church, its then we found him to be burned and his neck cut open, my parents helped me nurse him back to health, and what a nice pet he made. I called him Jerry.Does anyone know if they still walk with the saint and collect money?
There is a local Kearny guy who was a Board of Ed member, started the West Hudson Council for the Arts, and whose family is either named in the book about North Newark or there is a photo of his mother in it.......he still has the money blanket event thingy and a large gathering at his house on the last evening of the feast.
I do remember going to homes the week of the feast and families would have like alters and shrines in their homes in honor of St. Gerard they would have open house and always a big spread of food.
The very thought of a zeppole fresh out of the frier and dusted with powdered sugar makes me drool. How about we have a luncheon catered by Jimmy Buff's (ok or Dickie Dee's)with zeppoles for dessert? Take a preventive pepcid before eating and enjoy.
My grandmother used to walk barefoot, collect money for the cape because of a vow she made to St. Gerard decades go, when my grandfather was deathly ill. She passed the tradition on to my cousin, who still collects dollars for a cape. We've just been to the St. Gerard feast and Louie was able to wrap a cape of nearly $1,000 around St. Gerard's statue. He carries on the tradition for our mutual grandmother. We collect as well. The feast is as big as ever, and St. Lucy's Church, with its new plaza, is as beautiful as ever. Busses still come in in droves. But the neighborhood of devout Italians is about gone.
Mike, for Grandma.
oh my gosh...zeppola's and sausage sandwiches...and jimmy buff hot dogs...this is too cruel.....
I have been trying to find my grandmother's recipe for zeppola's...she use to make a huge batch when we would visit her...she had 12 children and they would bring their kids so you can imagine the houseful she would have...nothing like waiting for those delicious treats to be put out on the table with honey and confectionary sugar...someone gave me a recipe but it doesn't seem quite right...I would love to make a batch here in Peru...
God bless...karen
Hi,
Yes,we still walk and people still collect blankets of money. I have been walking for approximately 20 years. My husband and I would walk with my babies in carriages and make a blanket of money. My husband is now deceased but the tradition carries on. You wouldn't believe the amount of people that come since St. Lucy's Church is now the National Shrine of St. Gerard. The buses come from all over. Now I walk with my sons and their girlfriends - its such a beautiful feeling to know some traditions never die.
Since I work in Newark, I also go during my lunch hour to light candles, etc. Many of the girls at work go too.
I attended the feast of St. Gerrard for the first time in over 25 years! It was better than ever! I was also impressed by the nice housing in the area around St. Lucy's Church! It is improved with nice quality townhouses! ---- Dennis M.
