From Molfetta to Hoboken: Madonna dei Martiri’s Centennial Celebration

This past weekend was a significant milestone in Hoboken, New Jersey, for the decendants of Molfetta, Italy and for the Society of Madonna dei Martiri as they celebrated the 100th Hoboken Italian Festival - Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri. 

History and Molfetta Festival

The origins of this amazing feast on the Hoboken waterfront - overlooking the beautiful Manhattan skyline began in the year 1188 in Molfetta, Italy. Molfetta is located along the Adriatic Sea and is about 32km north of the city of Bari in the Puglia Region. 

As Crusaders were returning to the Italian peninsula via the Adriatic Sea from the Holy Land, they noticed a Byzantine icon of what was then called the “Virgin of Tenderness” floating in the water. The Crusaders brought the icon to the Hospice in Molfetta where many of the wounded went and while others died as martyrs for Christianity. The icon was later renamed Madonna dei Martiri or Our Lady of the Martyrs for those who gave their lives in the name of Christendom during the Crusades. The icon is processed through the streets of Molfetta each May 11 in thanksgiving for the city being saved from the earthquake of 1560.

The tradition of the festivities surrounding the Feast of Madonna dei Martiri goes back to the year 1399 when King Ladislao di Durazzo of Naples ordered a festival and religious celebration to honor the Miracle at Molfetta and for the Madonna’s blessings. The original structure that now houses the Basilica Pontificia Minore Madonna dei Martiri goes back to the 7th century. The modern basilica (what you see today) dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. 

In 1840, a statue of the Madonna was commissioned and sculpted by a Neapolitan sculptor named Giuseppe Verzella. In 1951, Pope Pius XII declared the Madonna dei Martiri as co-patron of the city and diocese of Molfetta. 

Today, the people of Molfetta pray a Novena each year between August 29 and September 7. During the Novena, various seaside celebrations occur in Molfetta, which culminate on each September 7 and 8 with the Feast of Madonna dei Martiri. The modern-day festival in Molfetta began in 1870 and encompasses the crowning of the Madonna at the cathedral followed by a procession to decorated fishing boats where the statue is placed upon one and a “sea festival” takes place. Following the return of the boats, the statue is processed back to the Cathedral to an exuberant crowd. At the end, the Bishop of Molfetta offers a blessing. 

From Molfetta to Hoboken

In the late 19th century, immigrants from the regions of Puglia, Molise and Campania (all in Southern Italy) arrived in Hoboken and many lived in tenement houses south of 7th Avenue. At this time, Italian immigrants did not generally identify with the Italian nationality (as the Nation of Italy was relatively new at this point), but rather, they identified with their regions or smaller geographic locations. They brought their customs from these geographical locations with them to the United States. As immigrants from Italy were the dominant minority group in Hoboken by 1920, certain immigrants from the Puglia region brought their Feast of Madonna dei Martiri to Hoboken. In 1927, the Societá Madonna dei Martiri was established and exists to this day and their festival began as a result.

Find out about some history of Hoboken and Italian immigration here. 

This year’s Hoboken Italian Festival - Feast of Madonna dei Martiri began on Thursday, September 10 and ran through September 13. Plenty of food and music was on hand throughout the weekend. The most significant events of the festival occurred on Saturday, September 12. These events, which I will discuss below largely mimic what still occurs in Molfetta.

The festival began with a Country Music Night on Thursday. On Friday, it was all about saluting the United States and remembering the horrific terrorist attacks and honoring those killed on September 11, 2001. The evening concluded with a Billy Joel cover band. Throughout the weekend, festival attendees could donate to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. There was also a Centennial Hospitality Suite where for $100 per person, you can enjoy cuisine from various Hoboken restaurants and desserts from such places as the famous Carlo’s Bakery.

The Feast of Madonna dei Martiri was celebrated on Saturday. I arrived in Hoboken at about 3:00pm. Following a short video recording (posted to @anthonyontheave IG and FB), I proceeded to the park near the Hoboken Ferry Terminal on Sinatra Drive. In front of the park is a beautiful walkway along the edge of the Hudson River where you can take in the panoramic views of the magnificent Manhattan skyline. The park itself was packed with all kinds of food vendors, other retail vendors, rides, games and people. There was also a separate enclosed tent for those 21 and older who wished to have an adult beverage. After walking around for a bit, I noticed people gathering by the ferry terminal and a NY Waterways ferry docked and adorned with a blue backdrop, a crown and Italian and American flags. The Madonna dei Martiri was on her way for the traditional boat ride around the Hudson River.

In the distance there was a color guard of American and Italian flags with a procession of the other patron saint of Molfetta - Saint Conrad. Following the saint was a large group of people (mostly members of the Society, the Clergy and devotees). Behind them was the beautiful and majestic statue of Madonna dei Martiri. The statue is housed at St. Francis Church on Jefferson Street in Hoboken. This is where the procession started. At the ferry pier, the statue of the Madonna was carefully placed on a pedestal on the ferry to cheers from the crowd. Following this, the “Blessing of the Fleet” took place and then the ferry departed with people on board from the Society, guests, including those from Molfetta and the Clergy. They sailed around the Hudson and viewed some vantage points, including One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. Later, they returned to Hoboken and processed, with the Italian band and color guard, the Madonna statue through the park and to a pedestal near the band stage.

As an aside - and this is what I heard from some festival goers, so I cannot absolutely confirm - the festival in Molfetta was moved so that the Mayor of Molfetta and Archbishop, as well as many people from Molfetta could attend the centennial Hoboken festival. I did meet several people from Molfetta who were present in Hoboken and there was a final blessing on Saturday from the Archbishop of Molfetta.

All while the ferry with the Madonna was sailing around the Hudson, more people began to pour into the park and listen to Italian music, enjoy the food and walk around the many tents. In addition to the food, some of the tents included costume jewelry and religious articles for sale. There was also a tent with historic pictures of the festival and Society, as well as a shrine tent with another statue of the Madonna, where you can say a prayer and light a candle. The afternoon music on Saturday included two bands directly from Molfetta. The evening band was Sal “The Voice” Valitinetti who performed favorites from Hoboken’s own Frank Sinatra and also Dean Martin and Tony Bennet. 

Following the procession of the Madonna through the park and her placement on the front pedestal, the Archbishop of Molfetta, along with the Cardinal of the Newark Archdiocese and other members of the Clergy gave a blessing to the crowd. There was also a beautiful sung rendition of the “Ave Maria.” 

Finally, the Feast of Madonna dei Martiri concluded with an amazing drone show. You can view a reel from this show on the @anthonontheave IG and FB pages. However, the video does compare to actually being there live with the music in the background and reactions of the people. Some of the highlights of the show included the connection between Molfetta and Hoboken, as well as the “America 250” logo, American Eagle, Statue of Liberty, St. Francis Church, Basilica in Molfetta and the Statue of Madonna dei Martiri. The crowd, including myself, was amazed and cheered loudly at the completion of the show. Such an extraordinary way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this magnificent feast!

On Sunday, there was some rain in the morning, but the feast kicked off with holy mass at St. Francis. Football fans could see the NFL games at the Feast Bar and the day continued with music from the Moroccan Sheepherders (a Jersey Shore favorite) and the Jersey Tenors.

AOTA Takeaway

I had heard great things about this feast in the past - especially about the Madonna sailing around the Hudson River on the ferry. What I did not realize was the close alignment with the festival in Molfetta - but more than that - the continued connection between this feast in Hoboken and in Molfetta. The strength of this connection proved real with the number of people from Molfetta who made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean to celebrate the centennial feast in Hoboken with their American family and friends. It is but one example that truly shows the continued strong connection between Italy and the United States.

Those whom I met that were visiting from Molfetta or those who live in the United States, but are descendants of Molfetta are proud of their heritage. I can’t tell you about the number of people I saw with shirts on that said “I love Molfetta!” There were also many others with Italian related shirts or hats on. In addition to the love of heritage, the love of the United States was also palpable with many patriotic songs being sung or played and the drone show that featured a tribute to the 250th birthday of the United States.

The food was mostly done by food truck vendors. The lines - especially at dinner time and at night - were very long. People waited in line to get their traditional Italian foods, zeppole, cannoli and much more. As mentioned above, you also had the option of paying $100 for the hospitality suite, which included gourmet foods. If you did not wish to do either, Sinatra Drive and the surrounding streets consist of several restaurants and bars where you can easily escape for something to eat or grab a cocktail and then come back. At one point between the procession and the drone show, I went to The LOLA (across the street from the festival) to enjoy a classic Manhattan and watch a little college football. 

Hoboken is easily accessible by car (plenty of garage parking), ferry, NJ Transit or PATH train. I highly recommend this very authentic festival that has such beautiful ties to the city of Molfetta. While most of the descendants of Molfetta no longer live in Hoboken, the Societá Madonna dei Martiri does an outstanding job at keeping this tradition alive and also keeping the ties to Molfetta strong. The integration of this long and storied tradition with American culture is very noticeable and I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this festival.

Congratulations to the Society, descendants of Molfetta, people of Hoboken and Molfetta and all those who came out this past weekend to celebrate this wonderful centennial of the Feast of Madonna dei Martiri. I am very much looking forward to the 101st celebration of this festival.

Buona Festa!