This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

St. Sebastian Church I Nuri Insist on Parading Their Saint Despite Rain

I will use this blog to document community events through photography. I hope you will enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy bringing it to you

The heavy rain on Sunday morning, May 15, 2011 did not dampen the spirit & devotion of the "Nuri" of the Saint Sebastian's Church in Middletown.  The "I Nuri" Run still went on as planned as parishioners of the Italian church still proclaimed their love of God & Saint Sebastian by making their annual pilgrimage from the Saint Sebastian's Cemetery in Middlefield along with another contingent of "Nuri" stationed at the former Sons of Italy Hall on Court Street in Middletown to the Saint Sebastian's Church in Middletown on Washington Street. 

The "Nuri" showed their love of their patron saint, Saint Sebastian known by declaring loudly through the streets of Middlefield & Middletown with the Italian phrase "E Chiamamulu Paisanu! Primu Diu E Sammastianu!" translated to English it means "He's one of our own! First God and then Saint Sebastian." 

The "Nuri" were dressed in white clothing, wore red sashes with a picture of Saint Sebastian pinned on their clothes, they held flowers in their hand and they ran either barefoot or in stocking feet through the streets of Middlefield and Middletown. Both the young & not so young and males & females participated in the annual "I Nuri" Run. 

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About 90 people gathered at the Saint Saint Sebastian's Cemetery in Middlefield to honor their patron saint according to Scott Colavito, one of the organizers of the "I Nuri" Run.  Colavito has been participating in the "I Nuri" Run since 1982 and he has never missed a year.  Before the "Nuri" started on their trek to the church they said prayers to their departed relatives, to God & Saint Sebastian. 

The people who ran in the "I Nuri" Run from the cemetery left in small groups between 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. so they could arrive at the church by 12:15 p.m. for the conclusion of the High Mass in honor of Saint Sebastian. When the mass was over both groups of "I Nuri" converged with each other and ran into the church still chanting "E Chiamamulu Paisanu! Primu Diu E Sammastianu! 

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Then, the statue of Saint Sebastian would be carried out of the church by the St. Sebastian Church parishioners who then transferred the St. Sebastian Statue over to the "I Nuri" who parade it through downtown Middletown for everyone to see.  Normally, when the statue of Saint Sebastian is set to be carried out of the church and there's a threat of rain the sun usually comes out just in time for the "Nuri" to parade  Saint Sebastian through city streets. 

Joe Monarca of Middletown has been attending this event for the past 30 years and said the weather usually clears up in time for the "Nuri" to parade their likeness of their patron saint on city streets.  On May 15th, this did not happen and the plan was to keep the statue  inside the church but the "Nuri" insisted in carrying the Saint Sebastian's Statue out of the church in the pouring rain for everyone to see through downtown Middletown.  

The "Nuri" prevailed.  During the processional the "Nuri" still chanted  "E Chiamamulu Paisanu! Primu Diu E Sammastianu!"  and they continued with this phrase until the statue was returned inside the church then they laid their flowers at the base of the statue.  A total of 250 people participated in the "I Nuri" Run.  Not only did they come from Connecticut but also from Rhode Island & Pennsylvania according to Gene Nocera, the General Chairperson of the festival. 

Why do the "Nuri" do this?   There are several reasons such as preserving tradition, to thank Saint Sebastian for his help throughout the year, to honor relatives, for health reasons, personal sacrifice to honor Saint Sebastian, family reasons and hoping for a miracle of some kind from Saint Sebastian. The "I Nuri" never do it for monetary reasons.

To View More Images of the 2011 Saint Sebastian's Church "I Nuri" Run Please Visit Frank LoGiudice's Photography Blog At http://franksphotographyblog2.blogspot.com/.

 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?