Parishioners at Our Lady of Snows in Floral Park celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsa, the first woman of Indian origin to be canonized, with a special Mass and outdoor procession on July 19.

The annual observance drew hundreds of worshippers from the parish’s large Indian Catholic community, and included ceremonial umbrellas, the distribution of blessed bread, and a statue and relic of the saint.

Worshippers gather for a special Mass July 19 at Our Lady of the Snows Church, Floral Park, celebrated in observance of the feast of St. Alphonsa.

 

A man carries a Vatican flag as he leads a rosary procession July 19 that took place in observance of the feast of St. Alphonsa.

 

Carmelite Father Naibin Kolenchery holds a relic of St. Alphonsa during a rosary procession July 19 that took place in observance of the feast of St. Alphonsa.

 

Women carry ceremonial umbrellas during a rosary procession July 19 that took place in observance of the feast of St. Alphonsa.

 

Sisters Lilly Kachapilly, right, and Jaine Elayathunkal, members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Saint-Marc, pray during a rosary procession July 19 that took place in observance of the feast of St. Alphonsa.

 

Father Fred Marano, pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Church, Floral Park, blesses a woman with a relic of St. Alphonsa.

 

A woman distributes blessed bread (“unniappam”) July 19 following a special Mass and outdoor procession at Our Lady of the Snows Church, Floral Park, that took place in observance of the feast of St. Alphonsa.

 

Women seek the intercession of St. Alphonsa July 19 following a special Mass and outdoor procession at Our Lady of the Snows Church, Floral Park.