The San Rocco Society held a Mass and luncheon at St. Leonard Church on Sunday, July 21st to honor their patron saint. The statue was on display at the newly renovated church hall, but the annual procession was cancelled due to the heat emergency.
The Story of Saint Rocco – Saint Rocco was born into an aristocratic French family. He turned away from his worldly inheritance and status, giving all of his possessions to the poor and the sick. He traveled plague stricken Europe caring for the sick miraculously curing those he encountered. Saint Rocco escaped death from starvation and plague by eating food brought to him by a dog.
San Nicola Baronia, a small town in Italy, adopted this Holy Man as their patron saint. Immigrants from this town established a Society dedicated to his works in Boston in 1921. The Society of San Rocco of San Nicola Baronia annually celebrates a festival in his honor and strives throughout the year to perform charitable works.
