A Look Back at the Feast of Saint Gerard in Newark, NJ

A Look Back at the Feast of Saint Gerard in Newark, NJ

Members and friends of the Italian Enclaves Historical Society attended the Feast of Saint Gerard, held October 15–18, 2026, at the Italian National Parish of Saint Lucy in Newark, New Jersey. The feast and procession brought together generations of faithful in a celebration of devotion, community, and Italian-American heritage. Home to the National Shrine of Saint Gerard, Saint Lucy’s remains an important gathering place for those who carry forward this beloved tradition. 

Saint Gerard Majella was born in 1726 in Muro Lucano, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. A tailor before entering religious life, he became a Redemptorist lay brother, remembered for his humility, prayer, and service to others. He died in 1755 at just 29 years old and was canonized by Pope Pius X in 1904. Known affectionately as “The Mothers’ Saint,” he is especially venerated by expectant mothers and families seeking his intercession during pregnancy and childbirth. His feast day is October 16. 

Sunday’s Mass was celebrated by Father Thomas Nicastro of Saint Mary’s Church in Nutley, New Jersey. The Mass and procession offered an opportunity to reflect on the faith that has sustained this devotion across generations, connecting the traditions of southern Italy with the lives of Italian Americans today.

For the Italian Enclaves Historical Society, attending celebrations such as this is an important part of understanding and preserving the living heritage of our communities. Enclaves endure through more than buildings and neighborhood boundaries: they live on through the people, prayers, and traditions that continue to bring families together. We are grateful to the clergy, organizers, volunteers, and devotees whose dedication keeps the Feast of Saint Gerard a meaningful part of Newark’s Italian-American story.

A special note: Saint Gerard has been credited with thousands of miracles for the unborn and expecting mothers . One of our board members, Jack Rizzo and his wife, Erin were blessed by a Saint Gerard miracle through the grace of God in the birth of their daughter (above). 

 

Raymond Guarini

Italian Enclaves Historical Society