Serendipitous Moment Highlights 5/16 'Living Legacies' Event

On Sunday, May 16, the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum presented 'Living Legacies: A Magical Pairing of Poetry and Music.' The event paired poetry written by Letizia Modica Tuzzolino and music by Alfred Morena - two Italian immigrants whose works have been given new life in the 21st century by their descendants. Ten of Letizia's poems - all of which have been translated into English by her two daughters - were to be read in both English and Italian by members of her family. Several recordings of Alfred's music - which his son, Alfred Jr., has had recorded by various artists - were to be played for the audience.

The program was just getting underway on the lawn of the museum when a special guest made an unexpected appearance. Preceded by flags, banners and a brass band, a statue of St. Joseph was paraded past the front of the museum and up Chestnut Avenue, where the museum entrance is located.

The arrival of St. Joseph was yet another magical pairing that afternoon, since the last of Letizia's poems to be read was named "St. Joseph."

Letizia's granddaughter, Victoria, was convinced her grandmother and St. Joseph were both looking down, smiling on the scene. "I'm sure she had this all planned," she said.

An explanation from The Church of St. Joseph stated that May 1 is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, and each year the church commemorates it with a festival that takes place over two weekends. The Feast includes food, rides and games for the whole family in the church's parking lot, as well as a special Mass. The Mass is followed by a procession, during which the saint is carried throughout the neighborhood by members of the Holy Name Society. The parade has traditionally been held on the second Sunday of the festival, but this year it was changed to the first weekend, coincidentally coinciding with the 'Living Legacies' program at the museum. Once St. Joseph and his legion of followers had passed, the 'Living Legacies' program restarted.

'Living Legacies' was part of the museum's popular Terza Domenica Heritage Series that presents a program related to Italian culture on the third Sunday of every month. To avoid conflict with Father's Day, the Terza Domenica event in June will be held on Saturday, June 19 at 1 p.m. Tony DiBartolo, Vice President for Public Relations for the Italian Genealogical Group (IGG) will present 'Mezzo Siciliano, Mezzo Napolitano,' an introduction to genealogical resources available through IGG.

For more information on the Museum, please call 718-442-1608. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned and operated by the Order Sons of Italy in America.

Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but the restroom is on the second floor. At press time, program funding has been provided through the Order Sons of Italy in America; by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Office of the Staten Island Borough President, Richmond County Savings Foundation; Northfield Bank Foundation, and by grants allocated by New York State Senator Diane Savino and New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo.