SAINT JOSEPH DAY PASTA MAKING WITH THE GROPPO FAMILY AND FRIENDS <3

Early morning and friends and family gather at the Groppo home. Nina has laid out trays of warm bread and pastries, a medley of fresh fruit, and vats of homemade ricotta steaming on the stovetop to greet the pasta-makers. Everyone pitches in, from the very youngest to the very oldest, men and women, boys and girls. The house is overflowing with helpers. The time goes by way too fast and in a few short hours, racks and racks of pasta are drying, in preparation for the March 19th Feast of San Giuseppe.

At another pasta-making station, Grace and Frank Sciortino made a special batch of maccarruna pasta, just for the helpers. After all the pasta-making mess was cleaned up, Nina served heaping bowls of maccarruna topped with homemade canned tomato sauce, from tomatoes grown in her garden last summer. A delicious lunch was had by all and as I looked around the room at the many generations gathered around the table, I thought of the memories being created from this very special community tradition of honoring Saint Joseph each year at the welcoming home of the Groppo Family. Happy San Giuseppe Pasta-making Day! 

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SHORT FILM: BEST PASTA-MAKING DAY EVER!

The film is password protected. If you would like to see Saint Joseph Pasta-Making Day, please contact kimsmith.designs1@gmail.com.

Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph: A Community Film Project
Part Two: La Famiglia
Saint Joseph Pasta-Making Day

When late winter snow melts while March winds blow blustery, Gloucester’s Sicilian American community begins to prepare for the annual novena and feast celebration in honor of Saint Joseph, the father of Jesus, husband of Mary, and many consider, the patron saint of Sicily.

The fishing port of Gloucester has a long history of welcoming immigrants. Around the turn of the previous century four million Italians immigrated to the United States. Little Italys sprang up all over the country and within these communities today, Sicilian traditions continue to be celebrated.

True heroes of the festa are the parents, nonnas, nonnos, aunts, and uncles who each year open their homes and hearts to the community. They grew up with a deep sense of security provided by la famiglia and are devoted to keeping these traditions alive for the children of the next generation.

Each year at the home of Nina and Franco Groppo a troupe of family and friends gather to make pasta for Saint Joseph’s feast. The pasta complements a traditional sauce made of fava beans and cauliflower. Legend has it that the during the great famine of the Middle Ages, prayers to Saint Joseph—and the lucky fava bean—saved the Sicilians from starvation.

A HEART FULL OF MEMORIES – VIVA SAN GIUSEPPE!

With love and deepest gratitude to the Groppo Family and Friends. My most heartfelt thanks to all and especially to Nina and Franco. Viva!

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Happy 90th Birthday Selma Bell!

Congratulations Selma!

CAFFE SICILIA’S SAINT JOSEPH CASSATA CAKE

Beautiful Cassata Siciliano from Caffe Sicilia

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First bites of Maria’s cassata cake, oh the concentration!

 

THE BEST PASTA IS SAINT JOSPEH’S PASTA!

As is done in many homes throughout the community, Saint Joseph pasta is served at the Groppo’s home with traditional Saint Joseph sauce (the main ingredients are fava beans and cauliflower), or with Nina’s homemade jarred tomato sauce. Everyone is always welcome at the Groppo’s Feast of Saint joseph and well over one hundred pounds were made to severe well over several hundred dinners. Viva San Giuseppe!

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Photos from the Best Pasta-Making Day with the Groppo Family and Friends

Sophia and Luca

St. Joseph pasta-making day began with Franco and the gentlemen heading over to Gloucester Fraternity to make huge batches of pasta dough with the Fraternity’s new mixer machine. Thanks were given to the club’s Mario for making it possible. Back at the Groppo’s kitchen, Nina and Fina were making steamy hot vats of homemade ricotta on the stovetop to serve for breakfast to all the helpers. Friends and family arrived in waves throughout the day and all were there to lend a hand making pasta.

After all the St. Joseph Day pasta that was needed was made, an extra batch of pasta was made for we pasta-makers. Nina heated up her divinely delicious tomato sauce that she had canned over the summer, with tomatoes from her garden. We had a wonderful lunch feast and as I looked around the table at the many generations gathered, I thought of the memories being made that will be cherished by all, created from this very special community tradition of honoring Saint Joseph each year at the welcoming home of the Groppo Family.

Geri, Jaclyn, Nico, and Giada

Rolling Pins!

Rosaria and Nina

Al working hard

Kathy, Marissa, and Enza

Last batch, fini!

Best Pasta-Making Day!

When you get to spend the day with these wonderful friends. Lots of photos to post later today ❤

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Unity, Reflection, Advocacy, and Action ~ Figli di Trappeto 11th International Women’s Day Celebration

A wonderful time was had by all at the Festa della Donna celebration, hosted by Figli di Trappeto, and held Saturday evening at the Gloucester House Restaurant. The guests included a tremendous group of Cape Ann’s community-spirited women.

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Each year a special guest is recognized for her commitment to the people of Gloucester and Cape Ann. Gloucester’s beloved Rosaria Giambanco-Floyd was honored for her generosity towards the ill, the elderly, the homeless, and especially for the care and love she provides to members of the community who are suffering from cancer.

Everyone was decked out in masks and beads and the Gloucester House was sparkling in the gold, green, and purple Mardi Gras themed decor, created by committee members Crocetta Groppo, Josephine Taormina, Enza Taormina, Fay Puopolo, Nancy Millefoglie, Faye Pavia, Kathy Numerosi, Geri Parisi, and Jackie Zappa. After a delicious dinner of fried chicken and baked haddock, dancing, and a hysterical adult version of scavenger hunt/musical chairs, kept the audience entertained.

To learn more about the history of International Women’s Day, visit the official website here

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Figli di Trappeto Board Members: Crocetta Groppo, Josephine Taormina, Enza Taormina, Fay Puopolo, Nancy Millefoglie, Faye Pavia, Kathy Numerosi, Geri Parisi, and Jackie Zappa.

Lots more instagram videos here, click the white triangle in the center of the video to play:

Our Beautiful Our Lady of Good Voyage

Blue-eyed Our Lady 

Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in the morning sun

Our Lady of Good Voyage was designed to resemble the Church of Santa Maria Magdalena on the island of Pico in the Azores. The west tower houses one of the oldest collections of carillon bells in the nation. The community is treated to a concert of the bells of Good Voyage on Tuesday evenings during the warmer months.

The above photo is of the original Our Lady, which lives on at the Cape Ann Museum. The photo was shared by Anita Coullard Dziedzic.

Excerpt from the Maritime History of Gloucester

“Originally dedicated in 1893, Our Lady of Good Voyage was built for the Portuguese community in Gloucester, after they petitioned the Roman Catholic Church for the establishment of a place to worship dedicated to the Madonna. Large numbers of Portuguese immigrants migrated from the rugged Azores Islands and began settling around Gloucester’s Inner Harbor as early as 1829 to work in the city’s active fishing industry. By 1888, approximately 200 Portuguese families lived in Gloucester making it the largest Portuguese colony on the East Coast. According to the story of Our Lady of Good Voyage, a stranded fisherman in the rough Atlantic Ocean broke one of his oars and could not return to his homeport. He sought help from the Madonna and the sea miraculously calmed allowing him to reach port safely.”

Read more about the history of Our Lady of Good Voyage here on the Maritime History of Massachusetts website.

Church of Santa Maria Magdalena, Madalena, Pico Island, Azores, Portugal

Church of Santa Maria Magdalena photo courtesy Google image search.