Carroll Gardens, now a trendy home to many young professionals, got a blast from the past last Sunday in true Catholic Italian style.

Dozens of women wearing all black came out of Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen Church to publicly show their devotion to their great intercessor, Maria Addolorata, Our Lady of Sorrows. Among them were girls wearing costumes, imported from an Italian convent, to resemble Our Lady of Sorrows.

They were followed by men in black suits, a group of whom carried a nearly life-sized statue of their patroness.

Maria Addolorata is the patroness of Mola di Bari, Italy, where there is great devotion to Mary under this title displayed in public through processions. When a group of Mola immigrants came to settle in Carroll Gardens, they brought their devotion and tradition with them. They made a replica of the Molanese statue and processed in Brooklyn for their first time in 1948. The tradition continues twice a year in honor of the feast day of the patroness and on Good Friday.

“It’s something that we are proud of,” said John Ingravallo, president of the Congregation of Maria SS. Addolorata di Mola di Bari. “Our fathers and grandfathers brought the Madonna here. We hope that people follow us.”

Among the ways that the tradition is passed down through the generations is by physically handing down dresses for girls to wear during the procession.

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Joseph Tanzi lends out his daughters’ dresses for different young girls to be able to participate in the procession. His daughter was born when he was fighting in Vietnam. Because his mother had a great devotion for Maria Addolorata, she wanted her granddaughter to be able to wear an Addolorata dress for the Carroll Gardens procession. She got her wish when her granddaughter walked the procession for the first time in 1974 in full Addolorata attire. Tanzi has been lending the dress out since his daughter has outgrown the dress.

This year, the honor was bestowed upon 4-year-old Maria Teresa Heyer, daughter of Maria and John Heyer, diocesan development officer.

Another dress that has been passed down the generations is the Conena dress. According to her mother, Frances Conena, when Rosanna Conena was a girl, she was sick for years. Her parents did not know what exactly was wrong with her, but she was just not herself. One year, when she was in the hospital with a fever, her paternal grandmother in Mola was convinced that if she would walk the Addolorata procession in costume, she would get better. So she commissioned a local convent to make her granddaughter a dress. She was able to pick up the dress from the nuns exactly one week before the procession in Brooklyn. She mailed the dress in an express package, which arrived, to everyone’s delight, six days later, just in time for the procession.

Rosanna said she remembers her father picking her up from the hospital and helping her walk the procession. “I’ve been better every since,” Rosanna said.

This year, Rosanna’s 10-year-old daughter, Giuliana, wore the dress during the procession, to the delight of Giuliana’s father, Francesco Marino.

“It’s an important part of the family spirit,” he said, speaking of the Addolorata festivities. “It’s a big part of our Catholic faith.”

The Molanese heritage Juliana Nuzzi hopes to one day pass down to her future daughter is the title of Miss Mola. Nuzzi won this honor a little under a year ago in a pageant and would soon pass it down to the next young lady. Her cousins and aunts held the title in years past. Nuzzi said it was an honor to make the Addolorata procession as Miss Mola.

“It’s the best feeling!” she said enthusiastically.

Many of the adult women in the procession wore ribbons identifying them as Sorellas. Nina Comes has been an official Sorella since 1963 but has had a devotion to Maria Addolorata her entire life. She said she remembers attending the procession in Mola as a girl. When she grew into a woman, she wedded in the church that hosts the statue of Maria Addolorata in Mola.

“I’m devoted to the Blessed mother,” Comes said. “I feel very close with her.”

Msgr. Guy Massie, pastor of Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen parish who marched in the procession, said the devotion the Molanese people display is exemplary to the surrounding community. Even though many of these people moved away, they still come back to show their love for Maria Addolorata.

“I tell you, I had a good time,” the pastor said to the Molanese congregation after the Mass that concluded the day at 8 p.m. after a 3 p.m. start. He said many people in the congregation shared with him stories of weddings, baptisms and funerals.

“This is your spiritual home,” he told the congregation. “You are always welcome here.”

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the main celebrant of the Mass in honor of the patroness, which followed immediately after the street procession and a display of fireworks.

During his homily, Bishop DiMarzio spoke of suffering, an emotion clearly displayed on the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, whose heart is pierced by a dagger. He said that just like in New Testament times, people today find the Messiah’s message too controversial because that message brings meaning to human suffering when bonded with Christ’s suffering.

The bishop said one only needs to look at the cross to gain a better understanding of suffering. He said the vertical plank can signify human suffering, which by itself is but a stump of wood. But, when it is joined with the vertical plank that brings humanity to heaven, it gains great importance.

The bishop also invoked Mary’s intercession for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East to help them receive the necessary graces to remain steadfast in their faith.