St. Sebastian's Fest Starts Tonight

One of my favorite events in the area is the annual St. Sebastian's Church Festival. This year will mark the 91th anniversary celebration and my favorite part is the annual "I Nuri" Run which takes place on Sunday. 

I have been photographing the since 1996 for the Town Times newspaper. 

The "I Nuri" are dressed in white clothing with red sashes,  holding flowers in one hand, they run either barefoot or in stocking feet and they have a picture of Saint Sebastian pinned on their clothing. There is no age discrimination when it comes to being an "I Nuri" both the young and old and males and females all participate in this spiritual event. 

There are two groups of "I Nuri" one group would start at the in Middlefield and the other group is stationed at the corner of Main and Washington streets waiting for the High Mass in honor of St. Sebastian to be over. This second group starts at the former in Middletown.

The group that  starts at the cemetery in Middlefield will leave in batches between 10 and 11 a.m. in order to be at the church by 12:15 p.m. when the High Mass is over. 

During the "I Nuri" trek from the cemetery and Court Street, they will proclaim loudly throughout the streets of Middlefield and Middletown, "Primu Diu e Sammastianu," meaning first God, then St. Sebastian. 

Once the Mass is over, both groups of "I Nuri" join one another and run into the church still chanting "Primu Diu e Sammastianu" and then a group of church parishioners will carry the statue of Saint Sebastian out of the church with the faithful "I Nuri" following them then the church parishioners would hand the statue of St. Sebastian over to the "I Nuri" who will then parade it through city streets for everyone to see. 

During the processional of the St. Sebastian's statue on city streets, the local Sam Vinci band plays the popular "Seven" song and the "I Nuri" are still saying, loud and clea,r "Primu Diu e Sammastianu!"

Here are some highlights:

• Friday: The St. Sebastian's Church Festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m with carnival rides, refreshments and music by DJ's Nick Fazzino & Louis Aresco.
• Saturday: Family Day, 12 to 10 p.m. Carnival rides all day with the purchase of a $20 bracelet. Music By DJs Nick Fazzino and Louis Aresco beginning at noon.  
• 4 p.m.: The IACE Italian Classes will perform traditional Italian and Sicilian songs.  They will be dancing the Sicilian Tarantella on the Grand Stage.

• 5 p.m. Judging for best homemade wine on main stage.

• 5 p.m. Unveiling of the Statue of St. Sebastian during the 5 p.m. Holy Mass with the "Nuri" wardrobe blessing celebrated by the Rev. James Thaikoottathil. This Mass will be videotaped by the office of Radio and Television of the Archdiocese of Hartford which will be broadcast on Sunday at 10 a.m. on WCCT TV, Channel 20, which can be seen locally on Comcast Cable of Middletown on Cable Channel 11.

• 6 p.m., wine judging continues. At 7:30 p.m., the winner will be announced on the Grand Stage.

• 6 to 10 p.m.: The band, Sound Alternative, will perform on the Grand Stage.

• Sunday: 8 a.m. Italian Mass.

• 11 a.m.: Solemn Pontifical Mass in honor of St. Sebastian.  The celebrant will be the Most Rev. Daniel Patrick Reilly, Bishop Emeritus of Worchester, Mass. This Mass will be broadcast live on WLIS/WMRD-AM 1150 and 1420) in Middletown and Old Saybrook. The "I Nuri" will arrive at the church at 12:15 p.m. at the conclusion of the High Mass to pay homage. The venerable statue will be carried in solemn procession through the city of Middletown with the Relic of St. Sebastian  and the Sam Vinci Marching Band.

• 12 to 10 p.m. is Family Day.

• 2 p.m. Auction on Grand Stage.

• 4 p.m. IIACE Italian classes will perform traditional Italian and Sicilian songs.  They will be dancing the Sicilian Tarantella on the Grand Stage.
• The Veneration of the Relic of St. Sebastian begins hourly at 2 to 7 p.m. 

• 5 p.m. Solemn Pontifical Mass. The celebrant will be the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich.
• 6 p.m. Raffle Drawing on Grand Stage.
• The closing of the St. Sebastian Statue will take place May 27 at 5 p.m.

To view more images of the Saint Sebastian's Church Festival "I Nuri" Run, check out my photography blog here.

Buona Festa!