Nina and Frank Groppo
Yesterday, March 19th, The Feast of San Giuseppe was celebrated in Siciliain-American homes throughout Gloucester. Filming concluded last night for Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film Project at the home of Nina and Frank Groppo.
I arrived shortly after 9:00 am to the Groppo home, already packed full of friends and family prepping and cooking and organizing the house to accomadate the multitudes expected. For fear of missing any wonderful moments, I was sorry to leave even briefly, but I needed to pick up the exquisite Sicilian cassata cake created by Maria, Nina, and Domenic at Caffe Sicilia.
Sicilian Cassata Cake
Returning to the Groppos ~ After days of preparation, cooking was in high gear, with enormous pots of Saint Joseph sauce simmering, vats of oil bubbling, and everyone working at their jobs. One of the most amazing aspects of the Groppo feast preparations is that no one person is giving orders; everybody just knows what to do and does their job perfectly!
At 11:30 guests began to arrive, and arrive they did! Literally hundreds of friends and family poured through the Groppo’s welcoming doors throughout the day.
After the extraordinary feast–extraordinary for the variety of, and deliciousness of, traditional Sicilian dishes, a feast for several hundred guests, I should add–many stayed for the afternoon; for conversation, coffee, desert, more wine, and tidyng the house for the next wave of family and friends, which began to arrive at 4:30.
The most beautiful of all prayer services was held at 5:00, where at the conclusion everyone stood shoulder to shoulder, holding hands, singing, and praying. Nina gave a most heartfelt speech of thanksgiving and then everyone embraced. The loving spirit of Saint Joseph, and the love and kindness of family and friends sharing a tradition together, was felt by all. And then we ate again, the second feast of the day!
Filming at the Groppo Family’s Saint Joseph Feast was simply beyond wonderful and I have a trunk full of memories I will treasure all my life. My most heartfelt thanks to Nina and Frank Groppo, and to their their extended Family and Friends for more than just allowing filming during their cherished Feast of Saint Joseph preparations, novena, and feast day, but for for making me feel welcome and completely at home! The thing is, they make everyone feel that way. Many come to the Groppo’s Feast straight away from work, fisherman and marine railway workers eat alongside businessmen in suits, and all are welcome at the Groppo table.
Words cannot accurately express my gratitude and appreciation to all the families that participated in the filming of Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph community film project. My sincerest hope is that the film will hold stories and moments for all to treasure.
I think the most challenging part of the upcoming editing is going to be in following the documentary’s screenplay, which I wrote several years ago, about the history and significance of the traditions, while weaving together everyone’s stories, and including all the priceless, spontaneous moments captured on film.
This post is a little hurried and I would like to write more, but it is my son’s 21st Birthday celebration tonight. Time for birthday dinner cooking to get underway. Viva San Giuseppe!!!
Updates will be added periodically to the film’s website: Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Film Project
Making Saint Joseph Altar Bread
Saint Joseph Altar Bread
Good Morning Gloucester 
Great work Kim. At the Groppo family’s house a couple of years ago as part of the Novena Trolley you could just feel the love in the air and the smiles and the food and the singing. A very special family just like the Orlando, Connavo, Brancaleone, Scola, and every other family who carry on this tradition. (Forgive me for not writing every family’s name down I’m writing from my cell phone).
We had a ball at Felicia’s house and hopefully with the coverage we gave and your film which I’m sure is going to be beautiful, even more of the younger generations come out to celebrate next year!
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Thank you Joey. So many families, and businesses, I know, appreciate the stellar coverage that GMG has given of the Feast of Saint Joseph, beginning I think at least four years ago. The earlier videos that you, (and I believe Manny?) created for GMG, visiting people’s altars at their homes are memorable, and along with continued coverage, are one of the reasons I became inspired to make the film.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to you, your family, all the families, Joe Virgilio, and Maria Cracchiolo, Nina, and Domenic from Caffe Sicilia, for yours and theirs enthusiastic participation in making Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film Project. Viva San Giuseppe!
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Kim did a very good job – here and so many families – and the best part is tradition carries on Thanks 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
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Thanks so much Dave for your always kind words.
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You are most welcome 🙂
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