More than 100 years ago, immigrants from Montefalcione brought Saint Anthony’s Feast to Boston’s North End, continuing their hometown’s veneration that dates to the 14th century. This year’s feast will be held from August 25-28. Saint Anthony became the official patron saint of Montefalcione because of his protection during the 1688 Sannio Earthquake, which severely…
Category: Current Events
After the Earthquake: Meet Stefano Ventura
As previously mentioned on this blog, the November 23, 1980 Earthquake decisively split Irpinia into a “before” and an “after.” (Click here and here for two related articles.) For Stefano Ventura, reconstruction in Irpinia goes beyond the act of rebuilding– it includes the reconstruction of a cultural identity that dates back centuries and placing that…
90 Seconds: An Interview with Giuseppe Rossi
Ninety seconds on November 23, 1980 split Irpinia into a “before” and an “after.” Now, 40 years later, documentary film maker Giuseppe Rossi is commemorating that life-changing event in a newly-released documentary. Rossi, who is originally from Guardia Lombardi (AV), has been passionate about films and cartoons since his youth. While in high school, he…
Nusco’s Role in Combating COVID-19
Situated between the Ofanto and Calore Rivers, the Lombards built a castle in Nusco to defend the valley from invaders. Now, Nusco is helping defend the world from an invader of another kind. DESMON SpA is a manufacturer of professional refrigeration equipment. According to its website, DESMON was founded in 1994 as a company for…
Irpinia Needs Your Vote
Which places are in your heart? That’s the question that FondoAmbiente Italia (FAI) is asking in its tenth “I Luoghi del Cuore” (“Places of the Heart”) campaign. I Luoghi del Cuore was created in 2003 by FAI in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo as a way to involve Italians in preserving and promoting cultural and historic…
Saint Rocco: A Saint for These Times
During these times of COVID-19, many people are turning to Saint Rocco for protection. He is one of the most venerated saints in Irpinia— a quarter of the towns in the Province of Avellino have some sort of devotion to him. But who is Saint Rocco? Saint Rocco protects against the plague, disability, and natural…
A Helping Hand for Criscuoli Hospital
While all of Italy is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, Irpinia is also seeing its share of cases. As of this post, there are 369 cases of COVID-19 in Irpinia, with the region’s hotspots being Ariano Irpino and Lauro. To date, there have been 128,948 confirmed cases in Italy, which…
Irpinia Comes Together Over Coronavirus
It’s a simple, yet profound, image that has been widely shared on social media outlets throughout Irpinia. Don Rino Morra, pastor of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Morra De Sanctis (AV), is seen consecrating a host during a Mass on Friday, March 13, yet he is the only one in the church, his solitary…
Representing America in Italy
For many dual citizens of both the United States and Italy, knowing that there are representatives in the Italian government dedicated to giving Italians in North and Central America a voice provides a feeling of connection despite being far away. Like the United States Congress, Italy’s Parliament is also divided into a bicameral system, with…
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