Holy Rosary
Catholic Church
Served by the Scalabrinian
missionaries since 1890
911 E. Missouri Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
News from the Parish
Our Lady of the Audience, 2010
Our celebration last Sunday was a combination of the feast of Pentecost
and Our Lady of the Audience. A first time participant to the 2009 feast of Our Lady of the Audience claims that he experienced a miracle. He was called for a heart transplant on that same day.
I believe the miracle this year was experienced by the whole assembly. The extraordinary participation to the feast was the largest of any celebration at Holy Rosary in the last 10 years. I consider it the first miracle of Our Lady’s feast this year. How many people were exposed and touched by Mary’s love and blessings! The whole assembly prayed and sang with such love and devotion. That devotion reminded me of the Pentecost that we were celebrating.
Accompanied by the organ, musical instruments and the choir it sounded like an angelic assembly. When the celebration moved outdoors for the shower of rose petals, everybody reached out to catch the rose petals that were raining down over the statue. The rose petals ran out, but the lucky catchers of the petals were gracious to share them with others.
Dulcis in fundo: Delicious home made cookies and refreshments were enjoyed by all as well as the warm company of old and new friends. I am grateful to the Molle clan and the devotees from Sambuca and elsewhere who are a vital part of the feast; to all who prepared the cookies, those who served in church and outdoors and everyone who participated and made our celebration a spiritual experience and historical event.
From immediate comments I heard, I can tell you that most people who attended the celebration came with hope and expectations for blessings and healing. They left satisfied and grateful with the assurance that Our Blessed Mother has blessings and healing for everyone and even miracles for the daring believers in Her love.
A special thank you to my assistant-partner, deacon John Barelli, whose father, Dr. Pat Barelli, was the oldest participant from Sambuca.
May Our Lady of the Audience continue to bless and protect us.
On the lighter side, this year I missed the delicious taste of Sambuca, (honestly, I did not look for it), but it was well compensated by more healthy substitutes.
Next year's celebration will be Sunday, May 22, 2011.
The history of Our Lady of the Audience at Holy Rosary
This devotion started in Italy in the mid 1500’s when a deadly plague threatened the life of the people of Sambuca, Sicily. All human and medical resources had failed and the citizens turned to the Blessed Virgin for help. The plague stopped miraculously and the thankful people carried the statue of Our Lady of the Audience through the streets praying the rosary and singing with joy.
The feast became an annual celebration with a solemn mass, procession, festival and fireworks and the participation of people of the neighboring towns.
In Kansas City, in the early 1900’s when Antonio and Saveria (Sara) Molle migrated to Kansas City, they brought this devotion with them. They ordered a replica statue of Our Lady of the Audience for Holy Rosary Church and they organized the annual feast in her honor with the same devotion and solemnity as they had experienced in Sambuca. All “paesani” and many people from the greater Kansas City area participated and the feast became very popular.
The celebration is more than a memory
of a past miracle. It is and it has been the expression
of gratitude to Mary by her devotees who continue to experience
her blessings personally and in their families.
For the annual feast the statue of Our Lady of the Audience
is draped in a jeweled cape with a blue sash holding
a crystal rosary and other mementos donated by devotees.
The statue in her regalia is displayed only during the
feast. 
There is another inspiring part of the feast. At the end of the mass, the statue is carried in procession outside the church and set on a stand. A poem is recited in Sicilian, followed by a prayer and a blessing. Then a shower of rose petals falls over the statue. People catch and treasure these petals and believe that they assure Mary’s blessings and good health for another year. People volunteer to share their experience of blessings and even miracles through the intercession of Our Lady of the Audience.
A first time visitor who attended the feast last year went home with a pocket full of rose petals claims that he experienced a miracle the same day. A Hispanic family who attended the feast in 2008 also claims a miracle that took place in Mexico. So Our Lady has international connections.
Attendance to the feast has been increasing in the last few years with the participation of people of different cultures. We are grateful to the extended Molle family, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, who with the collabration of parishioners and friends of Holy Rosary, have continued the tradition started by their pioneers Antonio and Saveria Molle.
St Joseph’s Table
Thursday, March 18 & Friday, March 19
The baking team has completed cannoli shells and pignolati, and begins baking full-time starting Monday, February 22. You are welcome to join us from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call Fr. Joe at 816.842.5440 if you would like more information. At right, Mary Ann Haynes and Carol Giangalanti sell cookies on St. Joseph's Day in 2007.
Last years’ donors were reminded with a letter from the
parish before being contacted. Cash donations from
parishioners, friends of Holy Rosary, and visitors are the
major source of income for our charity. New donors are
cordially welcomed to join the regular donors.
The great success of St. Joseph’s Table in the last few
years is due to the devotion, the hard work, and generosity
of many people. We are very grateful to every one of
them. We want to continue the tradition and we appeal for
your continued support.
St. Joseph Table will be Thursday and Friday, March 18th and 19th. Viewing of Table along with cookie and cannoli sales is Thursday, March 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Friday, March 19th , the Feast of St. Joseph, a special mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Table viewing and serving of the traditional pasta Milanese. Cookies and cannoli sales will be held until 6:00 p.m.
Your participation and contributions will assure you St.
Joseph’s blessings as well as the prayer and gratitude of
Rosary parishioners and the beneficiaries of our charity
fund. Please pray for good weather to make it safer and
easier for our many senior helpers and for all.
Shrimp Dinner 2010
Above, from left: Richard Circo, Marty, Josephine Pace, Margaret Mancuso, Carl Privitera, Joe Privitera
A great success! We enjoyed a constant flow of people from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and a full house from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We served 386 pounds of shrimp to over 300 satisfied people, including 78 carry outs. Shrimp was cooked and spiced to perfection by our expert cooks, and a full staff of volunteer helpers offered excellent service in the kitchen and in the hall. The cleaning crew did a great job.
It was a great experience of community, of friends meeting friends, enjoying the food and the company. We are very grateful to all who were part of the celebration, especially those who sold and bought tickets, and those who helped in any way to make it the best organized and successful shrimp dinner we've hosted.
Above, full house at the shrimp dinner
All proceeds of the shrimp dinner will go to the Scalabrini Mission and seminary in Haiti to help the Haitian people. Combined with the other donations received, we plan to send $5,000. Donations are still accepted and appreciated. God bless all the generous supporters of Holy Rosary Parish and our work of charity for the needy.
Tuckpointing the rectory
The rectory at Holy Rosary has been plagued with moisture and mold for a few years. Remember the mushrooms growing in the dining room between the baseboard and the wall? The new roof and windows eliminated some of the moisture, but did not completely eliminate the problem. As moisture continued to accumulate, the walls continued to deteriorate.
The real culprit was discovered recently by the D & D Masonry experts. What began as a minor face lift, turned out to be a major surgery. The rectory needed a complete tuck pointing job. The $30,000 project cost Holy Rosary only $15,800. We are grateful for families who contributed financially for the project. Donations are welcome.
Christmas 2010
