The Society of Canneto was organized by a group of natives from Canneto in January 1934 for the principal end of honoring, by means of their annual celebrations and charitable undertakings, their patron saints Maria Santissima della Stella and
San Vittoriano.
In 1912, Nicola Carlucci and his wife, Francesca, sought to bring a statue of Our Lady Madonna della Stella from Canneto so that the Cannetani of Los Angeles might also venerate her feast. On January 15, 1936, Mrs. Domenica Gianello and Vincenza Ferrante planned the formation of a society under the patronage of Madonna Santissima della Stella, “Protettrice” of Canneto, Bari.
The cult of San Vittoriano goes back to 1753 when a small coffin containing the sacred bones of San Vittoriano arrived in Canneto. The sacred remains were brought from Napoli by two Cannetani who had received the sacred relics from the Girondi. San Vittoriano's body was taken to the Cathedral of La Madonna della Stella as a reward to the piou citizens of Canneto. The feast of the transfer of relics is celebrated yearly by the Cannetani on the last Sunday of July.
The Canneto Colony of Saints Society and the many Cannetani residing in Los Angeles have supported Saint Peter's Italian Catholic Church since 1936 and will continue to be supportive of the needs of the Parish.
St. Pio of Pietrelcina was a Capuchin Priest from Italy who is venerated as a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He was bornFrancesco Forgione, and given the name Pio when he joined the Capuchins; he was popularly known as Padre Pio after his ordination to the priesthood. He became famous for his stigmata among many other things.
This is also the newest of all the societies tied to the Saint Peter's Italian Church in L.A., and as all the others the Saint Padre Pio Society is oriented to venerate the most world wide popular Capucin Monk.The goal is to pray for everyone's benefit. Twice a month the members riunite together to recite the rosary. Once a month a general meeting is held for everyone whishing to be involved. Its annual celebration recurrs in the month of September of every year, besides other events. The Saint Padre Pio Society is also involved in fund raising to benefit the Casa del Sollievo Hospital in Foggia Italy, for the research for cures against cancer. The Society is also instrumental in the St.Peter's Church Outreach program to help and feed the needy.
Maria SS di Costantinopoli, St. from the region of Puglie in Italy, has been honored for over a century with three-day festivals by the people of Bitritto. Since 1935, the event has been celebrated in Los Angeles by a group of Italian immigrants from Bitritto on the Sunday following the first Tuesday of March.
Today, as strong as it was then, our Society takes pride in continuing this traditon by celebrating our Blessed Mother with a traditional procession followed by festivities including a dinner (prepared by volunteers) and dance. Our society, thanks to the generosity of our members and friends, has helped in the establishment of Saint Peter's Church by financially supporting the construction of the dinner hall, donating the tower bell, the downstairs Mirror Room, the construction of Villa Scalabrini center for seniors, and many more ongoing projects.
Maria SSma. Di Costantinopoli Society, while preserving our tradition, is committed in the rejuvenation of the Casa Italiana and will continue supporting the growth of Saint Peter's Church, the cultural center for Italian Americans in the Los Angeles ar
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries.
They built a chapel in the midst of their hermitages which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, whom they conceived of in chivalric terms as the "Lady of the place." Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is also the patron saint of Chile.
The society was re-established in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, by a group of ladies from the town of San Polo Matese, Province of Campobasso, Molise, Italy. In re-establishing this society we hope that the current members and future generations will continue to dedicate their time and love to the future of our society.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was a major fest in their hometown in June and they wished to continue the same tradition at St. Peter's Italian Church. The founder, Maria A. D'Egidio, and co-founder, Clara Iezza, in 2003 campaigned family members and families from the same hometown for their interest and support. They all agreed that the society be formed with the assistance of Fr. Giovanni Bizzotto. The society was re-established in June 2003 with the first feast on June 20, 2003.
The society will enable the elders to continue their much loved tradition and to pass it on to their children and future generations.
The mission and tradition of Famiglia del Sacro Cuore di Gesu' Society is to promote the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to provide financial support to St. Peter's Italian Church and any organization in need of financial aid. Members of the society attend the first Sunday of the month Mass and provide flowers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Quarterly, the society hosts a polenta dinner. Net proceeds go directly to support the church.
San Trifone Society also known as “Societa Cattolica Pugliese di Beneficenza”, was founded in 1936 as part of the St. Peter's Italian Church. The San Trifone Society is made up of members who are devoted to San Trifone. Many of them are immigrants or their descendants from Adelfia Montrone, in the province of Bari, Italy.
The purpose of the Society is to celebrate the Feast of San Trifone, the patron saint of their hometown, Montrone where the life of San Trifone is celebrated with a feast on November 10 of each year, the day commemorating his wrongful death in 250 AD. San Trifone devoted all of his time and energy to strengthening the faith of Christians. He suffered a torturous death as a result of his Christian beliefs. The members of the San Trifone Society are deeply devoted to their saint and are committed to keeping their tradition alive in their homeland. The San Trifone Society honors San Trifone with a feast on the closest Sunday to November 10. It begins with a Mass at St. Peter's Italian Church followed by the procession where the statue of San Trifone is carried by devoted to the saint. The celebration continues with a dinner dance at Casa Italiana attended by more than five hundred people.
This celebration is just one of the rich Italian traditions being preserved for our children and grandchildren at St. Peter's Italian Church. The members of the San Trifone are proud of their tradition and grateful to Saint Peter's Church where it is kept alive.
St. Lucy was born of noble Greek parentage in Siracusa, Sicily, and raised as a Christian by her mother, Eutychia, during the period of brutal Christian persecution. Though Lucy wished to dedicate herself to God, Eutychia arranged for her marriage to a young pagan.
One day, however, the mother, who suffered from hemorrhage, was persuaded to make a pilgrimage to Catania to offer prayers at the tomb of Sr. Agatha. St. Lucy made known to Eutychia her desire to give her own share of their fortune to the poor and devote herself to God's service. In gratitude for her cure, Eutychia agreed.
But this so angered the young man to whom Lucy had been unwillingly betrothed that he denounced her as a Christian to the governor, Paschius. The persecutions instituted by the Emperor Diocletian were then at their height, and when St. Lucy steadfastly clung to her faith, she was sentenced to prostitution in a brothel. However, God rendered her immovable and the officers were not able to carry her off to the place of evil. An attempt was made to burn her, but burning oil and pitch had no power to hurt her or break her strong spirit. At last she was finally put to death by the sword.
The saint's relics are venerated at Venice and at Bourges, France. She is the patroness of Siracusa; her emblems are a cord and eyes. The feast of Santa Lucia was celebrated annually December 13 under the auspices of the Holy Name Society, who endeavor to improve their spiritual life with the practice of religion and in particular with the reception of Holy Communion every month.
The Santa Lucia Society, since 1993, has become an independent society to carry forward the Italian traditions and to help St. Peter's Italian Church and other charitable organizations. In the picture the 2004 Officers.
The St. Anthony Society was established at St. Peter's Italian Church in February of 1939 to celebrate the annual feast of St. Anthony. For 80 years the society has carried on the tradition of its founders.
Origional founders: Bernice Potrelli, the society's first president; Jennie De Santis; Mary Smaldino; Amalia Mance; Palma Amato; Mary Monteleone; Gioiella Lotito; Assunta Ferrante; Emilia Busco; Anna Nicasio; Angela Bruno; and Pascual Frontino.
Today, the St. Anthony Society meets monthly at Casa Italiana in order to keep alive the traditions of years past. The society's goals are to maintain and preserve our faith in God through the intercession of St. Anthony, bring together Italians and other ethnic nationalities to pray together, carry on tradition and enjoy festive gatherings, and to assist in the support St. Peter's Italian Church and its outreach program that extend services to the poor, including the St. Anthony Orphanage at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua.
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