Maria SS. della Lavina 2026

by Rev. Cav. William Rock, FSSP, SMOCSG

As long-time readers of the Missive are aware, for the past several years, in coordination with the Italian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark, others and I have worked to revive the public celebration and procession in honor of the Madonna della Lavina (Our Lady of the Torrent) at St. Aloysius Church in Caldwell, New Jersey, my home parish.  I have written previously about the devotion here and have also reported on the 2024 and 2025 celebrations.  This year’s celebration occurred on Saturday, 19 September 2026.  I was the celebrant for the Solemn High Mass celebrated in honor of the Madonna, with Rev. Cav. Michael Barone, SMOCSG, of the Archdiocese, serving as Deacon, and Fr. Robert Boyd, FSSP, assistant administrator of Our Lady of Fatima in Pequannock, New Jersey, serving as Subdeacon.  Rev. Cav. Barone preached.

As in years past, the Mass was a Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Grace as the image of the nursing Madonna is interpreted by the Ceramesi as an image of Our Lady of Graces (la Madonna delle Grazie).  Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s (1525-1594) Marian Missa Sicut lilium inter spinas was sung along with the following: Prelude: Salve Regina – Peeter Cornet (c. 1575-1633); Processional: Mira il tuo popolo (trad. Italian); Offertory motet: Ave dulcissima Maria – Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613); Communion motet: O gloriosa Virginum – Palestrina; Postcommunion motet: Sicut lilium inter spinas – Palestrina; Marian antiphon: Salve Regina (simple tone); Recessional: O Sanctissima (Sicilian Mariners’ Hymn).

This year, thanks to the enthusiasm of a family of devotees, for first time since the revival and possibly for the first time in the New World, attendees donned the devotional dresses worn in Cerami on the feast day.  In Cerami, for the feast, all girls and women who have received the Sacraments at least a year ago, whether single or married, with no age restrictions, are able to wear a red dress with a yellow sash around the waist.  The carriers of the vara in Cerami traditionally wear a long-sleeve, light blue satin shirt, a black sash around the waist, and dark pants.  For this year’s Caldwell celebration, a few young ladies wore red dresses, patterned on those worn in Cerami, and yellow sashes, while the men who carried the vara, and their auxiliaries, wore black pants with light blue shirts.  Perhaps the black sash can be incorporated in the future.  The young women who wore the devotional dresses distributed feast neckerchiefs and sheets with the Mass propers assisted by the young vara auxiliaries.

After the Mass and procession, there was a reception in the parish gym.  As in years past, there was a display of memorabilia.  Returning this year to the display was the old society banner which had been sent out for repair and restoration.  Being over 100 years old, the restoration and repair will help ensure the banner is maintained in good condition for the future.  However, even with the restoration and repair, the banner should not be used in the procession.  A plan, though, is in motion to have a new one, patterned on the old, created which can be used.

Last year’s reception introduced cavatieddi atturrati di Cerami.  These cookies are one of the identity dishes of Cerami.  This year introduced the other identity dish, the u pipi vugghiutu soup, named after its main ingredient, Ceramesi peppers (u pipi Ciramisi).  Usually eaten with bread, this soup serves as a hearty winter breakfast for Ceramesi farmers.  Just like the cavatieddi atturrati, this soup also reflects the humble and agricultural roots of the community.  While the soup at the celebration did not contain Ceramesi peppers, which are native and local to Cerami, a selected match was used instead.  There is a fittingness that both these cookies and soup are present at the Madonna della Lavina celebration not only because of their ties to Cerami, but also because in Cerami, in late September, La Sagra dei Prodotti Tipici Ceramesi ‘Pipi e Cavatieddi’, a festival in honor of the soup and cookie, is celebrated.  This year, also, in addition to the cookies, the soup, assorted Italian mini-pastries, brown pears, and figs, there were also a few prickly pears.  While brown pears are associated with the celebration in New Jersey, prickly pears are affiliated with the celebration in Cerami.

Before concluding with a series of photographs, the organizers of this year’s event would like to thank profoundly all those who volunteered and contributed – May God reward you all!

Evviva la Madonna della Lavina! Evviva Maria!

Rev. Cav. William Rock, FSSP, SMOCSG was ordained in the fall of 2019 and was invested as an Ecclesiastical Knight of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George in the summer of 2025.  He currently resides at the FSSP Canonical House of St. Casimir in Nashua, NH, and ministers at St. Stanislaus parish.

In support of the causes of Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen, and Servant of God Francesco II, King