Italian feast celebrated this weekend in Des Plaines
The 18th annual Italian Feast of SS. Crocifisso will be celebrated Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, on the grounds of Maryville Academy, 1150 N. River Road in Des Plaines.
The festival is put on by people in the Chicago area who emigrated from Ciminna, a small town outside Palermo, Sicily, where it has been celebrated since 1651.
It will begin with Vespers at Marian Chapel 6 p.m. Saturday followed by live music performed by Enzo Incandela. Sunday's events begin with an Italian Mass at 12:30 p.m., followed by a procession of the cross accompanied by the Sicilian Band of Chicago, a horse parade, live music, entertainment, food and fireworks at the close of the festival.
The celebration was brought to the area by Philip Nigliaccio, who believes that he and his family were graced by God when on December 23, 1995, they walked away from a terrible car accident without any injuries. He began the crusade to have a replica of the cross of SS. Crocifisso, associated with miracles in the Italian town, made and to have a procession here. Fred Scimeca traveled to Sicily to make an exact reproduction of the image and the local celebration of the feast began. The cross is kept at the main alter of Marian Chapel on the grounds of Maryville.
For information, go to www.sscrocifisso.us.