St. Sebastian's Church Festival Highlights

One of my favorite events in the area is the annual Saint Sebastian's Church Festival.  This year will mark the 90th anniversary celebration of the Saint Sebastian's Church Festival.  My favorite part of the festival is the annual "I Nuri" Run which takes place on Sunday, May 15, 2011.  I have been photographing the "I Nuri" Run 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 & old and males and females all participate in this spiritual event.  There are two groups of "I Nuri" one group would start at the Saint Sebastian's Cemetery in Middlefield and the other group is stationed at the corner of Main & Washington Streets waiting for the High Mass in honor of Saint Sebastian to be over.   This second group starts at the former Sons Of Italy Hall on Court Street in Middletown.

The group that  starts at the cemetery in Middlefield will leave in batches between 10 a.m.-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 & Middletown "Primu Diu e Sammastianu" meaning first God then Saint Sebastian.  Once the mass is over both groups of  "I Nuri" would 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 Saint Sebastian over to the "I Nuri" who will then parade it through city streets for everyone to see.  During the processional of the Saint Sebastian's statue on city streets the local Sam Vinci band plays the popular  "Seven" song and the "I Nuri" are still saying loud & clear "Primu Diu e Sammastianu"

This year the Saint Sebastian Church will be welcoming back The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, Virginia who will deliver the 11 a.m. Sunday High Mass in honor of Saint Sebastian.  Bishop Loverde began his career as a priest at the Saint Sebastian's Church serving from 1966-1969.

Here are some highlights of the 90th Anniversary Celebration of the Saint Sebastian's Church Festival:

Friday, May 13, 2011:  The feast officially opens at 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. with rides, refreshments, and music by DJ's Nick Fazzino & Louis Aresco

Saturday, May 14, 2011:  "Family Day" and the festival is open from 12 p.m.-10 p.m.  The carnival rides all day are $20 with the purchase of a bracelet which would allow you to ride as many times as you like.  Music again will be provided by DJ's Nick Fazzino & Louis Aresco from 2 p.m.-6 p.m.  IACE-Italian Classes Performance at 4 p.m. on the Grand Stage.  5 p.m.:  Judging for the Best Wine on the Main Stage.

5 p.m. Mass will have the Unveiling of the Statue of Saint Sebastian and the "Nuri" wardrobe would be blessed.  The mass will be celebrated by Reverend James Thaikoottathil.   After the mass, church parishioners will then start to pin money to the statue of Saint Sebastian this will continue until Sunday, May 22, 2011 when the "Closing of The Statue" will take place at the end of the 5 p.m. mass. 

6 p.m.-10 p.m.:  The Band "Sound Alternative" will perform on the Grand Stage.

Sunday, May 15, 2011:  8 a.m. Mass in Italian.

11 a.m. Solemn Pontifical Mass In Honor of Saint Sebastian.  The celebrant will be the Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, Virginia and former priest at Saint Sebastian's Church from 1966-1969. The High Mass will be broadcast on Radio Stations WLIS(AM 1420) Old Saybrook  & WMRD( AM 1150) Middletown. At approximately 12:15 p.m.,  the "I Nuri" should arrive to pay homage to Saint Sebastian.  It is at this time the Saint Sebastian Statue is carried out of the church and paraded through city streets with the Relic of Saint Sebastian and the Sam Vinci Band playing behind them.

Sunday is still "Family Day" at Saint Sebastian's Church which means you could ride the carnival rides all day with the purchase of a $20 bracelet.  IACE-Italian Classes Performance at 4 p.m

2 p.m.-7 p.m.:   The Veneration of the Relic of Saint Sebastian will take place hourly.

3 p.m.:  There will be an auction on the Grand Stage.

5 p.m.:  Solemn Pontifical Mass with The Most Reverend Michael Cote, Bishop of Norwich as the celebrant.  

6 p.m:  Raffle Drawing on Grand Stage.

Recently, I created a photography blog about the Saint Sebastian's Church where I have images of the interior of the church and of the "I Nuri" Run from several years ago.  To view my photography blog,  please click on the link below,  copy and paste it in your window browser or type it out exactly in your window browser.  

http://franksphotographyblog2.blogspot.com/

Buona Festa!