Santa Fara relic in Detroit – Detroit Catholic

The celebration included a mass, a procession and the veneration of a relic of Saint Fara from Italy.

DETROIT- For Guiliana Kempf, attending Mass at Holy Family Church in Detroit on Sunday, June 30, and participating in a procession in honor of Saint Fara was a special moment.

Kempf, who carried the Italian flag during the procession before Mass, walked in front of the relic of Saint Fara, which was brought to Detroit from Cinisi, Sicily, Italy, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the local social and religious organization Societa Santa Fara di Cinisi — or Santa Fara Club — a community organization based in Sterling Heights dedicated to preserving and celebrating Italian heritage and culture.

“I came here to celebrate Santa Fara because it’s part of my culture,” said Kempf, 15. “This is an opportunity to make memories and do it with the people I love.”

Saint Fara, also known as Burgundofara, was a 7th-century French saint venerated as the patron saint of Cinisi, the hometown of Kempf’s maternal great-grandparents. Kempf said she hopes to visit the town and church in person in the coming years.

Father Antonio Ortoleva, parish priest of the Church of Santa Fara in Cinisi, brought the relic for veneration at the request of the Santa Fara Club in Detroit.

Through an interpreter, Father Ortoleva said he was very happy to accept the request to bring the relic of the saint’s robe to Detroit for this momentous occasion. He said he came to Detroit and was immediately warmly welcomed with his presence and the relic he brought with him.

“On this feast day, it was a real joy to meet so many Italians, not only from Cinisi, but also from other places in Sicily and Italy – all in one big family to celebrate Santa Fara,” he said.

Hundreds of people filled the pews of the Church of the Holy Family, built by Italian immigrants in 1909. To the right of the main altar stands a statue of Saint Fara, which has been in the church for over 100 years. Father Ortoleva, the PIME mission director in the USA, Father Daniele Criscione, and Father Paul Ward, parish priest of the Holy Family, celebrated the Mass.

Father Ortoleva particularly enjoyed the procession, led by many people carrying banners of various religious organizations, as well as the prayers and songs that are customarily recited in Italy in honor of the patron saints on their feast day in April.

“It was very moving to enter the Church of the Holy Family and witness this unique, extraordinary moment,” continued Father Ortoleva. “By celebrating Mass together, we were able to thank our Lord for his work in bringing this community together.”

In addition, Father Ortoleva added that the celebration was a bridge that connected lives and enabled an exchange of love and prayers.

“Our past, our present and our future yet to come connect us,” he noted.

Alfonso Chirco, 83, who was born and raised in Cinisi, attended the festive mass with his wife, three children and many of his grandchildren.

“The relic of Saint Fara is normally in Cinisi, and bringing it here has strengthened our community,” Chirco said.

“Father Antonio brought a lot of the spirit of Cinisi here; the good feelings of our birthplace,” said Chirco. “He made this day special for all of us from Cinisi. It was nice to have him here in the church and for the grandchildren to get to know him.”

Michael Biondo, president of the Santa Fara Club, said Father Ortoleva’s arrival was of great importance for generations of local families to remain connected to their religious traditions and their roots. Processions in honor of local patron saints are part of Catholic traditions in Italy.

“It’s special to have a piece of Santa Fara here in Detroit, and it’s equally important to have Father Antonio here so our families can bridge the gap between Italy and the United States,” Biondo said. “This celebration has brought so much joy and nostalgia to many of us here.”

Vincent Sclafani said it was an unforgettable event for him to attend with his son and grandchildren.

“I wanted them to be more involved in our culture,” Sclafani said. “They know our stories and now they see people here with similar stories.”

It was also significant for Sclafani because the Holy Family is also the church in which he and his wife were married.

“I want (my children and grandchildren) to know the history of this church and to know that my wife and I were married here and that my father-in-law helped build it.”