New-York tribune., 1900-09-09
HOH4GE TO ST. FORTUNATE.
ITALIANS FROM THE TOWN OF BAUCINA
IN a GRAND CELEBRATION.

The Sicilian Italians Of the ELzabeth-st. district
are engaged in grand celebration in honor Of
ST. Fortunate. patroness OF the town Of Baucina in
the Province OF Palermo Sicily. The festival be-
gan early Yesterday with the firing Of guns. and
VIII end tomorrow evening with a blaze OF fire
works To-day religious professions will pass up
and down Elizabeth-st- between Spring and
Bleecker SITS. and the Church OF Our Lady Of
Loretto, No 303 EIizabeth-st. viii probably turn
away hundreds who desire to hear Father Nicholas
Russo tell Of the wondrous works Of St Fortunate
More natives OF the town OF Baucina live in three
blocks in Eizabet1-st. than remain in the town
itself When the people were forced TO leave Italy
the IRE unable to bring the bones Of the saint,
who they believe has watched and cared for
them for hundreds Of years Their traditions say
that the bones of Fortunate were brought to
Baucna from Palestine in the year 800 A. D. and
that they have rested in the Church Of the Col
leigio di Maria ever since. The colony has never
before felt prosperous enough TO hold celebration
IN her honor in this city.
The Italians were busy all day yesterday deco
rating their tenements. Not a single fire escape in
the whole four blocks is without its bunting and
flags and fancy lanterns The flags mostly
Italian. but the Stars and Stripes are conspicuous,
and al OF the bunting is in red, white and blue
The streets are filed with strings Of lights, mostly
italian oil cups with globes Of different colors.
Along the pavements in front OF stores many
booths have been erected, in which decorated
cakes knickknacks and religious relics for sale
Three or four big bandstands were also erected
YESTERDAY and will stand through TIE celebration.
A long and lively band concert was given by
three Italian bands yesterday afternoon The
bands played the loudest and best they could. for
prize OF 500 goes 20 the most popular band al the
end Of the celebration. In the evening there was
long religious parade. A host Of young girls IN
white dresses marched at the head Of the process
sion carrying the lighted candles Of their first
munon. Their soft Italian voices were raised in
sacred song Back Of them small army Of
boys clean for once in their lives. Back of the
children thronged the Older people.
Solemn will be said this morning at the
Loretto Church, and many children will receive
communion. All day the church will be open for
prayer The priests viii tell the old story Of St.
Fortunate and the life Of goodness which gives her
power.
tomorrow will cause many of those who see 1t 10
shudder High above the street ropes and wires
have been tightly stretched and these little
girls dressed angels are TO be hauled about in
ufdair They will be dressed in white and have
wings fastened 10 their The mothers Of the
little girls selected for angel parts have been
convinced that there is danger and the girls
themselves eager for the experience There
win be more bands more fireworks more people,
part Of the festival viii have passed, and there
y,iIJ he nothing dampen the enjoyment. The
Iigfous festival will be turned into carnival Of
pleasure. .,, -. - s,+.. ~ ,
forgot her once. according 70 their tradtlons-for
got her for some travelling heresy When they
move 2h me The q streets half the people Of the town
dhl9lg @ nt able 10 ft IT. Nor did they succeed until
they nad tasted and prayed Tor weeks The
fathers Of Of the older men in the local col
Ks the sicilian colony IN this city has prospered
selling fruit and other things 10 their fellow Ital-
fans and 10 Americans. they are going 70 send 81 600
back to Baucina to build chapel for the use OF
members OF the colony when they return TO pray az
ST Fortunata's shrine Many OF them go back
every year TO have their health restored or 10 pray
that sickness may not come upon them and their
friends.