The Feast for La Madonna dell’Assunta in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Feast for La Madonna dell ‘Assunta honors the Assumption of Mary, and brings the Italian community of Springfield to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for a holy mass and a celebration.

“The Italian community is really faith-driven,” expressed Frank Girmaldi, an usher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. “There is a lot of faith behind it and we pay honor to the different saints because a lot of times we will have a special connection to it.”

The celebrations included a procession with the Mary statue and there was a marching band performance in the South End neighborhood. Salvatore with Sons & Daughters of Italy in Springfield told 22News how this feast came about.

“Immigrants from Italy, where my grandparents are all from, started this feast to honor our lady the assumption, the catholic belief that Mary was assumed in a heaven body and soul,” said Salvatore Circosta, the president of Sons and Daughters of Italy in Springfield.

The historical Calabrese feast has been in Springfield’s South End since 1930.

“It’s an Italian tradition to take whatever the patron of your town is and during the feast time of him or her, you take the statue out after mass and then you have a procession through the streets of your town,” said Circosta.

The celebration ended with a four-course dinner where guests were able to enjoy some Italian delicacies and music at the Parish Center.

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Kiara Smith is a reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since March 2023. Follow Kiara on X @KiaraBSmith1 and view her bio to see more of her work.

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