Our Lady of the Rosary, mother and founderHave you ever felt guilty if you didn't begin your New Year's resolutions precisely on January 1? After all, we have the entire year, don't we?
Whatever date I begin every year, improving my Spanish, saving more money, and praying the Rosary daily are the top three on my list.
Promoting a devotion to the Rosary seems part of many Catholics' to-do lists, especially for Reverend Justin Cinnante O. Carm, who is the chaplain at Iona Preparatory, a private Catholic, pre-K-to-12 all-boys school in New Roshelle, New York, where students meet once a month for Rosary and Cannoli.
Omnes had a chance to speak with Father Cinnante about the evolution of this dynamic duo.
Omnes had a chance to speak with Father Cinnante about the evolution of this dynamic duo. It all started one day when Father Cinnante was chatting with some students and encouraging them to pray. He hoped to do something that would inspire the boys to pray the Rosary and remembered an adult community group in New York City called "The Rosary and Bourbon." But he knew that would not be viable, but said perhaps, "something along those lines to encourage people" to pray together and create that fraternity. Leave it to an Italian American priest to devise a plan involving il dolce Italiano. Father Cinnante recalled, "I was just joking with these kids from the Italian club and said we should do something like Rosary and Cannoli." The students liked the idea and said they'd "definitely come to that, Father!"
A divine intercession
The first meeting was with the boys with whom Father Cinnante had spoken, and one of them brought some cannoli. "We had a nice little time of prayer and fraternity," said Father.
That sparked the idea to "open it up to the whole school," recalled Father Cinnante. He said he spoke to the Italian club's Italian teacher and she said that the Italian club might sponsor it.
We know that there are no coincidences when it comes to our Blessed Mother. One of the boys in the Italian club's parents owns an Italian pastry shop, and the Italian teacher informed Father Cinnante that they would "probably provide a discount."
Mother Mary helped refill the guests' glasses at the Wedding Feast at Cana, and she would also intercede to procure a discount so that all might come to pray the Rosary.
Father Cinnante made an announcement after morning Mass one day, and said, "We are going to honor our Lady after school and the Italian club would sponsor the Rosary and cannoli; in addition, there would be some "fraternity afterward." "Wow," recalled one of the teachers when sixty-five students showed up. Father and the teacher agreed, "We should do this more regularly." And they did.
Tradition at school
On December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception about a year and a half ago, the Rosary and Cannoli meet became official.
They meet monthly, starting in October and ending in May, and most months welcome between 100-to 150 students. It has been a success, and on the grand final in May of last year, 350 students, both present and alumni, processed around the track. And there was plenty of cannoli: a whopping 500, to be exact.
While a cannoli may entice the palate, its appeal is not everlasting, as is the love and protection of our Blessed Mother. She promises many things to those who recite the Rosary; for example, "Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces." And she promises her special protection and the most extraordinary graces to all those who recite the Rosary. These are just two of the many gifts and graces from our Lady.
It's no wonder that one of Iona's former students, John Capozzoli, was in attendance for a Rosary and Cannoli meet. In an interview, he said, "A lot of people believe that the boys come for the cannoli, but I truly believe that everybody comes here to pray... a lot of kids leave without the cannoli because they want the experience of praying."
Another former student, Michael Olveri, said, "I think it's a great thing to raise awareness about and to spread love throughout the world and peace, and that's…what Father [Cinnante]is trying to do here is spread it around the school, and a nice little touch is a cannol[o], but that's not the whole point… it's to raise the awareness."
The Rosary takes place right after the bell, and many of the boys have to go to practice and come only to do the Rosary, said Father Cinnante. And while he doesn't doubt that many students come for the "fraternal aspect," he believes that "the majority of kids...come for the Rosary.
He was also proud to share that their daily Mass is well-attended and is usually during students' lunch period. He told Omnes they have Adoration, and kids are constantly in the chapel and living the "sacramental life."
Bravo, Father, and to all the faithful students!
