The first procession honoring the Mother of the Rosary in 1926.
Submitted photo
Escorts of the Mother of the Rosary during the ceremony in 2022 are, from left: Tony Traglia, Sal Infantino and Ryan Joyce.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
The 100th anniversary of the procession of the Mother of the Rosary marched down Pine St., Pittston, in 2022. This year marks the 102nd procession.
PITTSTON TWP. — The annual Mother of the Rosary procession will take place today at 3 p.m. from Orioles Park at Pine St.
The procession will travel through the streets of South Pittston, returning to the Park for a fireworks display.
The tradition has been a part of the Italian-American community to honor the Feast of the Mother of the Rosary for 102 year.
Since 1916, the Montedoro Society of Pittston was formed as a fraternal and civic organization by immigrants who came to this country from Montedoro, Sicily, to make their homes in the Pittston area, and who, for the most part, worked in the coal mines in the Wyoming Valley.
Today, the society has transformed into an organization to carry on the traditions of the ancestors of Montedoro and their descendants.
Among those traditions is honoring the patron saint of their native village. Thus in 1922, the immigrants from Montedoro decided to commission the construction of a statue of the Mother of the Rosary to be used during festivities that began in Pittston that year. Funds for the statue were raised by solicitations sponsored by the Montedoro Society.
The statue, made in Sicily, arrived in Pittston in 1922 and was originally housed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Francesco Castellino, 62 E. Railroad St., Pittston. It was later brought to St. Rocco’s Church and is currently on display at St. Joseph Marello Parish on William Street, Pittston, where it remains, except for the yearly procession.
Traditionally, the statue is adorned with handmade that began in 1922 by Salvatore Licata, who personally embroidered the first cape used on the statute. The current capes were made by Rose Chiarelli and are now in the care of Johanna Casper.
Money is pinned to ribbons to support the prayers and intentions of the patrons.
Over the past 60 years, Dolores Infantino has been faithfully decorating the truck in honor of the Mother of the Rosary.
During the procession, the Cino Paci Band plays traditional Italian and American marches while serenading the people in the streets along the way.
For the first few years of the procession, men of the Montedoro Society carried the saint on a platform.
In 1926, the first truck was used to carry the saints and the distinguished men of the society would escort her and St. Dominick.
