SCRANTON – As the smell of pizza and porketta swirled around Courthouse Square in Scranton Labor Day weekend, hundreds gathered inside the Cathedral of Saint Peter for something even more nourishing.
The annual Mass in Italian was held Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, just one block away from where tens of thousands filled up on bowls of pasta and delicious cannoli.
“There is no way that we could have La Festa without La Messa,” Ashley Yando-DeFlice said.
DeFlice’s words struck at the heart of why so many return each year for the Mass: to honor their ancestors, celebrate their faith and anchor their weekend festivities in reverence and prayer.
“You can have a festival anytime and you can have Italian food and Italian music, but the Italian festival is a celebration of our entire culture, our entire tradition, and without acknowledging the fact that we are rooted in our faith, that is taking a big piece of the Italian American experience away from us,” she added.
Father David P. Cappelloni, Pastor of Saints Anthony & Rocco Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, both in Dunmore, served as the principal celebrant and homilist for the liturgy.
Father Cappelloni reminded the hundreds in attendance about the importance of traditions that keep people going.
“It reminds us of the fact that we’re united, one in God before we’re united as Italians or Americans or anything else. God needs to be first in our lives,” Father Cappelloni said. “The Mass reminds us of all that God has given us and all that God promises to give us, and we celebrate His bounty, especially the bounty of our heritage and all the wonderful things that we associate with being children of our parents and grandparents.”
Monsignor Constantine V. Siconolfi, chaplain emeritus of La Festa, concelebrated the Mass.
This year’s liturgy was once again celebrated in loving memory of members and friends of La Festa Italiana who passed away since last year’s gathering, including longtime ushers, parishioners, community leaders, and supporters.
As the Mass ended and the crowds walked one block away for lunch, those who gathered in prayer surely gave thanks for where they’ve come from and for the blessings they have received.
“God has blessed us with all that we have and the celebration that is on the Square with all the food, fun, and wonderfulness – it all comes from God, and the Mass reminds us of that,” Father Cappelloni emphasized.