VIDEO: 82nd Columbus Day Parade Honors 250 Years of Italian Contributions in America
MIDTOWN — The world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture begins with Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral ahead of the 82nd Columbus Day Parade.
Waves of Italian immigrants have brought together Catholic faith and culture for centuries.
“Mayor Koch said to me, ‘You never forget when the immigrants came, two ladies were here to welcome them, Lady Liberty and Mother Church, and I’ve never forgotten that,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York.
Clergy and parade-goers from the Diocese of Brooklyn say their Italian heritage in New York is rooted in their churches.
“We all were migrants at some point, and we should not oppress the people that are here, especially if they’re law-abiding, they’re working — we have to recognize, our responsibility to them,” said Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
“To support our culture our history and all the Italians that live here. We’re very proud to see that this continues as a tradition and also honor the ones before us,” said Carla Gaita, who attended the 82nd Columbus Day Parade.
“We profess our faith wholeheartedly, we’re in church every Sunday, we’re very religious and it’s number one to me, she’s number one. I never leave nothing in the church,” said Giovanna Nuzzo and Maria Arsena, who attended the 82nd Columbus Day Parade.
After a cancellation of last year’s parade due to severe weather, this year the festivities were back to celebrate Italian-American contributions.