Bring Your Hamsters, Parrots, Dogs And Cats For The Blessing of The Animals In Carroll Gardens

If you have a pet at home, you might want to take part in this Sunday's Blessing of the animals help jointly by two neighborhood churches.  No critter is too small or too big...
Here is more info:

On Sunday October 7, 2012 at 2 pm., St. Paul's Episcopal Church  and Sacred Hearts- St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church will be holding the annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The blessing will take place this year at Sacred Hearts-St. Stephens Church Yard at 125 Summit Street, located between Hicks and Henry Streets. In the event of rain the blessing will be held inside St. Paul's Church at 198 Carroll Street.
All in the community are invited to bring any and all animal members of their family to be blessed.

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A Moment Back In Time: Maria And Antonio Ciluffo On Their Wedding Day

Meet Maria and Antonio Ciluffo, the newly-wed couple in this wonderful old photograph taken at The Eagle Photo Studio, 119 DeGraw Street, right at the corner of Columbia Street.
They were immigrants from Carini, Sicily, outside of Palermo.
The studio is long gone, but some of the descendants of Maria and Antonio still live right here in the neighborhood.

Their great-grandson, Carroll Gardener Michael Brown, writes:

Antonio was a cement/plaster worker and Maria worked in sweatshops all around the neighborhood (as did three of her daughters). They attended Sacred Hearts Church, which is no longer around due to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway's footprint. They loved the yearly Feast of St. Rosalie, the patron saint of Palermo, where their daughter, Christina, met a young man from Bari, Michael, whom she would eventually marry.

Michael informed me that Maria and Antonio are buried side by side in Greenwood.

I want to thank him for sharing his family's Carroll Gardens history. And please check out his neighborhood site here.

Maria And Anthony's hometown in Sicily today

photo credit: rayclark1 on Flickr

photo credit: rayclark1 on Flickr

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Carroll Gardens Easter Tradition: Good Friday Procession And Marzipan Lambs

Every Easter, these marzipan lambs appear in the window of Court Street Pastry. I especially like the little Italian and American flags sticking out of the fake grass.
Yes, Carroll Gardens may be changing, but there are still signs that this is an Italian neighborhood.

If you need further proof, you may want to check out the Sacred Hearts/ Saint Stephen Church Good Friday Procession. Here is further information from the parish's web site.

The Procession begins at 7 P.M. from the front of Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen Church (Hicks and Summit Streets) and concludes in the Church for a brief prayer service, in Italian, after winding its way through the crowded streets of the neighborhood.

Italian Catholics from the Tri-State area return home annually to Brooklyn’s oldest Italian Parish, Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church, to solemnly process through the streets of Carroll Gardens marking the Holyday of Good Friday. While the area has seen much change since the parish’s founding by Italian immigrants in 1882, this time honored tradition and devotion continues to be a staple of what Carroll Gardens is all about.
This tradition has persevered thanks to the dedicated family and organizations that consider their customs sacred and time honored. Sacred Italian Catholics from the Tri-State area return home annually to Brooklyn’s oldest Italian Parish, Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church, to solemnly process through the streets of Carroll Gardens marking the Holy day of Good Friday. While the area has seen much change since the parish’s founding by Italian immigrants in 1882, this time honored tradition and devotion continues to be a staple of what Carroll Gardens is all about.
Sacred Hearts along with the Congrega SS Addolorata have carried the difficult task of preserving their Italian heritage through this and many other services and traditions in the face of an ever changing demographic for the past 125 years. Hearts along with the Congrega SS Addolorata have carried the difficult task of preserving their Italian heritage through this and many other services and traditions in the face of an ever changing demographic for the past 125 years.

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A 1936 Invite To Josephine And Michael's Wedding At Sacred Hearts

Sacred Hearts-St. Stephens today

Josephine and Michael's wedding at Sacred Hearts

292 Court Street

Former Parus Palace

(Now, Amico Day Care Center)

Last week, I had the great pleasure of taking a look at the archives of Sacred Hearts - St. Stephen's Church with John Heyer, the parish historian who has tirelessly worked to collect and preserve the fragile documents pertaining to the oldest Italian parish in Brooklyn.

And what wonderful documentation, not of the church's past, but of the entire South Brooklyn neighborhood. John is an incredible source of information and I was very thankful that he took the time to share this treasure trove with me.

Amongst all the archived papers, there was a lovely wedding photo and invitation. The newlyweds are Josephine and Michael. They got married at St. Stevens on Sunday September 27, 1936. The reception was held at the Parus Palace, 292-294 Court Street (today's Amico Child Care)
Though the Parus was an old movie theatre, John Heyer explained that there was a big open space on the second floor which was used for such celebrations. He also pointed out that it was unusual to have two mothers invite to the event, but Josephine and Michael's fathers had passed away.

I love the fact that the bride's residence is included: 412 Henry Street. And after the wedding?
The happy couple moved to 16 4th Place.

Thanks for sharing, John.

John Heyer is a Special Assistant to Borough President Marty Markowitz and a 39th Council District candidate.

*** Did you know that Sacred Hearts- St. Stephen Parish has its own Facebook page?
To join, click here.

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Sacred Hearts' Second Grade In 1960/61. Regognize Any Carroll Gardeners?

Click Here To Enlarge Original

"Look at this!" Joe Alameda of Perfect Corner said to me when I stopped by to say hello.

" This is my second grade class at Sacred Hearts. School year 1960-1961. Can you believe how many kids were in one class with only one teacher?"

I took a look at the framed photo on his wall. Indeed, there seemed to be more kids than one adult could handle. But these children looked so incredibly well behaves, sitting at their tables, hands folded, or standing at attention in the back.
Of course, Joe, who grew up in Carroll Gardens, is in the photo. He is the third child from the left in the row of standing boys.
Pointing at the picture, Joe started rattling off the names of his classmates. First and last names. Amazing! Many still live in the neighborhood.
And the name of the teacher? He remembers it well.

But now, let's hear from you, dear Carroll Gardener. If you attended Sacred Hearts during those years and recognize any of the kids, let me know. And for those of you who moved here much later, you will be surprised by some of the names. You may know these people today.

The complete list of names will be posted here in a few days.

*** The Sacred Hearts School was located between DeGraw and Kane on Hicks Street. It is now a condo.***

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