Chambersburg parish keeps faithful to 110-year-old Marian tradition
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
For 110 years, the Chambersburg section of Trenton has upheld a beloved tradition of paying tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Mass and procession.
To view photo gallery on this story, click here.
Such was the occasion Aug. 14 when members of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, former parishioners and other guests gathered for the Mass and then joined in a procession through several nearby streets, reciting the Rosary and singing hymns of praise. The focal point of the procession this year was slightly altered. In past years, there would be a float, adorned with flowers, bearing a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. This year, however, there were multiple statues of the Blessed Mother, which was reflective of the parish’s multicultural congregation and the various countries from which the parishioners hail. The multi-generational parish is comprised of Italian, Italian-American and many Latino countries in Central and South America.
The tri-lingual Mass, which drew some 600 people, was celebrated in English, Spanish and Italian in Immaculate Conception Church, one of Our Lady of the Angels two worship sites. The procession traveled to St. Joachim Church, the second worship site, where exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was celebrated.
Principal celebrant of the Mass was Father Elkin Jose Gonzalez, vicar general and director of vocations for the Diocese of Tulsa, Okla. Several priests concelebrated including Father Cesar Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish.
“Faith in God renews our hope,” said Father Gonzalez in his homily.
“We come here on this very hot afternoon to be with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mother,” said Father Gonzalez, as he exhorted the parishioners to remain “faithful to God,” as the Blessed Virgin Mary had been throughout her life.
The procession was originally started in St. Joachim Church by the Italian immigrants to the community as a way to publicly celebrate their faith and the rich culture and heritage of the Italian Americans living in Chambersburg.
Since 2006, the procession date had been moved to a Sunday in August from its 100-year tradition of being held on the second Sunday in September. The decision to move the date was made following the 2005 merger of the two Chambersburg parishes into the new Our Lady of the Angels Parish. Since 2006, the second Sunday of August was chosen as the date for the parish’s patron feast and procession as Aug. 2 is the feast day of Our Lady of the Angels.
Father Rubiano, in his remarks, acknowledged Grace Mazzatelli, a lifelong St. Joachim parishioner who served as this year’s procession committee chairperson, as well as the many volunteers who assisted, especially those from the Mexican, Costa Rican and Italian communities, populations with increased numbers within the parish.
“I love this occasion. I’m passionate about the procession. I don’t want to ever see it end,” Mazzatelli said, as she recounted how her ancestors hail from various towns in Italy including Casandrino, the town from which most of the Chambersburg Italian families emigrated.
Acknowledging the decision to have more than one Blessed Mother statue in the procession, Mazzatelli spoke of the importance of acknowledging the diversity of the people “that we have within our community.”
Along with the statues of the Blessed Mother, the colorful celebration included parishioners carrying flags representing the various countries and some were even clad in native attire.
Seidy Leiva said that she and her family hail from Costa Rica and have been members of Our Lady of the Angels for six years.
Noting how she appreciated the parish’s multi-cultural environment, Leiva said, “We give thanks to God for this celebration, we are very glad that we came.”
Roberto Munoz, the bearer of the Panamanian flag, shared about his family’s devotion to the Blessed Mother.
“The Virgin Mary is our heavenly mother; she prays for us,” said Munoz. “We should face sufferings like Mary did – with patience and love – because one day the suffering will turn into eternal rest with the Lord.”
Once Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament concluded in St. Joachim Church, the parishioners continued their celebration with a picnic on the parish grounds.
Monitor associate editor Mary Stadnyk and correspondent Armando Machado contributed to this story.
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For 110 years, the Chambersburg section of Trenton has upheld a beloved tradition of paying tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Mass and procession.
To view photo gallery on this story, click here.
Such was the occasion Aug. 14 when members of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, former parishioners and other guests gathered for the Mass and then joined in a procession through several nearby streets, reciting the Rosary and singing hymns of praise. The focal point of the procession this year was slightly altered. In past years, there would be a float, adorned with flowers, bearing a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. This year, however, there were multiple statues of the Blessed Mother, which was reflective of the parish’s multicultural congregation and the various countries from which the parishioners hail. The multi-generational parish is comprised of Italian, Italian-American and many Latino countries in Central and South America.
The tri-lingual Mass, which drew some 600 people, was celebrated in English, Spanish and Italian in Immaculate Conception Church, one of Our Lady of the Angels two worship sites. The procession traveled to St. Joachim Church, the second worship site, where exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was celebrated.
Principal celebrant of the Mass was Father Elkin Jose Gonzalez, vicar general and director of vocations for the Diocese of Tulsa, Okla. Several priests concelebrated including Father Cesar Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish.
“Faith in God renews our hope,” said Father Gonzalez in his homily.
“We come here on this very hot afternoon to be with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mother,” said Father Gonzalez, as he exhorted the parishioners to remain “faithful to God,” as the Blessed Virgin Mary had been throughout her life.
The procession was originally started in St. Joachim Church by the Italian immigrants to the community as a way to publicly celebrate their faith and the rich culture and heritage of the Italian Americans living in Chambersburg.
Since 2006, the procession date had been moved to a Sunday in August from its 100-year tradition of being held on the second Sunday in September. The decision to move the date was made following the 2005 merger of the two Chambersburg parishes into the new Our Lady of the Angels Parish. Since 2006, the second Sunday of August was chosen as the date for the parish’s patron feast and procession as Aug. 2 is the feast day of Our Lady of the Angels.
Father Rubiano, in his remarks, acknowledged Grace Mazzatelli, a lifelong St. Joachim parishioner who served as this year’s procession committee chairperson, as well as the many volunteers who assisted, especially those from the Mexican, Costa Rican and Italian communities, populations with increased numbers within the parish.
“I love this occasion. I’m passionate about the procession. I don’t want to ever see it end,” Mazzatelli said, as she recounted how her ancestors hail from various towns in Italy including Casandrino, the town from which most of the Chambersburg Italian families emigrated.
Acknowledging the decision to have more than one Blessed Mother statue in the procession, Mazzatelli spoke of the importance of acknowledging the diversity of the people “that we have within our community.”
Along with the statues of the Blessed Mother, the colorful celebration included parishioners carrying flags representing the various countries and some were even clad in native attire.
Seidy Leiva said that she and her family hail from Costa Rica and have been members of Our Lady of the Angels for six years.
Noting how she appreciated the parish’s multi-cultural environment, Leiva said, “We give thanks to God for this celebration, we are very glad that we came.”
Roberto Munoz, the bearer of the Panamanian flag, shared about his family’s devotion to the Blessed Mother.
“The Virgin Mary is our heavenly mother; she prays for us,” said Munoz. “We should face sufferings like Mary did – with patience and love – because one day the suffering will turn into eternal rest with the Lord.”
Once Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament concluded in St. Joachim Church, the parishioners continued their celebration with a picnic on the parish grounds.
Monitor associate editor Mary Stadnyk and correspondent Armando Machado contributed to this story.
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