The legend says that in 1178 A.D. the wife of General Altieri, named Stella Beatrice, lay dying and without hope. Suddenly, she jumped up and cried out “I am cured, a lady has awakened me three times and assured me that I am cured…” Stella Beatrice said her name was Maria Santissima della Stella. In gratitude for the unexpected healing, her husband decided to build a chapel to venerate the Celestial Queen, promising to pay homage with a feast every year.
 
And in fact, our Lady Madonna della Stella is still honored every spring in Canneto (Puglia) on the Monday following Easter, as well as in Los Angeles on the first Sunday after Easter.        
                                                        
Here, the celebrations started in 1934, when the Canneto Colony of Saints Benefit Association was founded by Cannetani as a society at St. Peter’s Italian Church. The main purpose of the association was –and still is- to continue the tradition of celebrating the annual feasts of our two patron saints of Canneto, Maria Santissima della Stella and San Vittoriano Martire.
 
This year’s celebration took place on Sunday, April 7th, and it was a special one: it marked the 79th Anniversary of the celebration at St. Peter’s Church. A beautiful mass was held, followed by a procession through the streets of Los Angeles featuring the statues of the Madonna della Stella and San Vittoriano Martire, and by a feast at Casa Italiana, which continued well into the evening.
 
Like every year, someone was honored for the help and participation in the celebration. This year’s honoree was Angene Laricchia Reisbeck, daughter of Gaetano and Mary Laricchia. Gaetano was the founder of Pontrelli and Laricchia Meat Company in Los Angeles, makers of Maestro Sausage.
 
Another special occasion that repeats every year is the election of the Queen and Princess. This year’s Queen for the celebration was Elisa D’Egidio while the princess was Gabrielle Crispi, last year’s queen of St. Peter’s Church. Isabella Rose Reisbeck and Kevin Andrus represented instead San Vittoriano and the Madonnina for this special occasion.
 
We are happy to announce that this year’s president of the Canneto Colony of Saints Society is Paul Crispi, Jr. Other offices include treasurer Palmie Crispi, vice president Vita Zaccaria, secretary Richard Masters and public relations officer Robert Masters.
 
We look forward to the next celebration in Spring 2014, and we invite you to participate in such a joyous festivity.

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