2026 Italian Festival @ St. Nicholas of Tolentine, South Philly, PA #italianfestival

If you enjoy this video, please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE. * #italianfestival #italian #italianfood #processionofsaints #church #festival #stnicholasoftolentine #philadelphia #southphilly #thingstodoinphilly FAITH, FAMILY, AND TRADITION * The St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival is held on the first Sunday of October, on the 1700 Block of S. 9th St. Presented annually since 1987, it is dedicated to keeping alive the spirit & faith of the early Italian immigrants. This festival features a religious procession, musical entertainment, a wide variety of ethnic food, rides, games, Italian & religious items, gifts baskets, & raffles. The menu reads like a greatest hits of Italian-American cooking: arancini, broccoli rabe, tripe, meatball & porchetta sandwiches, pastas, sausage & peppers, canolli, & more. **Unfortunately, this year was compromised by torrential rain. The festivities moved indoors, to the basement of St. Anthony of Padua Regional Catholic School. No rides... no procession of saints. But still a fun time to be had by all! The festival is free & open to the public. stnicksitalianfestival.com ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINE CHURCH - America was always a nation of immigrants, but when the people of Eastern & Southern Europe arrived in the late 1800’s, they were deemed less compatible & less desirable than the earlier settlers. Italians were a large part of this new population & often met with hostility. The Catholic Church in Philadelphia faced a challenge termed the “Italian Problem.” The new immigrants were poor, did not speak English, & carried spiritual beliefs & customs different from the Irish & German Catholics who held positions of authority in the archdiocese. Their style of dress, music, zealous dedication to patron saints, & emphasis on food as a critical part of their social & religious fabric were considered problemmatic. The number of immigrants in South Philly grew so much that a new parish was established in 1898 - Our Lady of Good Counsel. Unlike the archdiocesan priests who sought to have Italians assimilate, the Italian Augustinians encouraged & enabled to retain original culture & personal identity. In a relatively short time, the Italian population grew from 30k to over 150k, & began to rise in stature, education & economic status. The Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish became overwhelmed & in need of an additional church. On April 14, 1912, St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church was dedicated, with great joy among all - Italian religious & beneficial societies, brass bands, Italian & American flags, & children singing hymns. Sadly, the mood changed as word spread of the luxury liner, the Titanic, struck an iceberg only hours after the ceremony ended, & by the next morning it sunk, claiming over 1,500 lives. In 1916, the original chapel was demolished. With the desire to build an important edifice, an award winning Italian architect was chosen, Nicholas Seraccino. Seracchino studied in Naples, & had an office in NYC. He had recently completed two structures in Manhattan - The Church of the Sacred Hearts of Mary & Jesus, & The Church of St. Jean Bapiste at 72nd & Lexington, which is considered the most significant Catholic Church in NYC, second to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In 1987, on the 75th anniversary of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Fr. Nick reinstituted a parish procession. The annual event has grown into a day-long festival celebrating church traditions & authentic Italian culture - in many ways reflecting the history of the parish itself & proudly displaying it for all to see.   The pandemic of 2020 brought challenges to spiritual leaders all over the world - churches were physically closed & the faithful felt isolated. St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish began broadcasting Sunday Mass & provided support online. To fill the spiritual absence experienced, Fr. Nick delivered a special blessing by processing through the neighborhood in the bed of a pickup truck. This caught the attention of media across the country, reporting on this beautiful demonstration of faith during a very difficult period. -  SAN NICOLA DA TOLENTINO - Born in 1245 in Sant'Angelo, St. Nicholas took his name from St. Nicholas of Myra, at whose shrine his parents prayed to have a child. He became a monk at 18, & seven years later, was ordained a priest. In 1274, he was sent to Tolentino, where he ministered to the poor & the criminal. He is said to have cured the sick with bread over which he had prayed to Mary, the mother of God, & gained a reputation as a wonder-worker. Nicholas died in 1305 & canonized in 1446, being credited with 300 miracles. The remains of St. Nicholas are preserved in the Basilica di San Nicola da Tolentino in the city of Tolentino, Italy. He is an advocate for the souls in Purgatory, especially during Lent. November 2, All Souls' Day, holds special significance for the devotees of St. Nicholas of Tolentino.