Nicodemo Carlino, first President and Vincenzo Calacoci, first Vice-President

In 1992 a group of Grotterisani got together to form an Association in the honour of the .SS Crocifisso, Patron of Grotteria.  The group composed of Grotterisani who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s and 1960s.  They were young at the time and came for job reasons.  In the following years these Grotterisani, together with their descendants, formed the SS Crocifisso Sydney.

The inaugural Executive Committee comprised of: Nicodemo Carlino, President, Vincenzo Calacoci Vice-President, Tony and Mario Falcone respective Secretary and Vice Secretary, Anna Femia Treasurer and Lina Pangallo Vice Treasurer.

The inaugural Committee was made up with: Vincenzo Arcuri, Vincenzo Carlino, Tom Carlino, Vincenzo Condomitti, Vincenzo Falcone, Nicodemo Femia, Salvatore Femia, Vincenzo Femia, Alfonso Galluzzo, Frank Galluzzo, Luciano Galluzzo, John Macri, Peter Macri, Vincenzo Macri, Rocco Riccio, Domenico Scarfo, Lorenzo Agostino, Domenico Agostino and Sam. Albanese.

One of the first acts of the committee was to commission a reproduction of the statue of the SS Crocifisso Grotteria by sculptor Giuseppe Correale di Siderno.

One of the scopes of the Association was that festa of the SS Crocifisso would be celebrated on the second Sunday of September, which coincides with what happens annually in Grotteria.  For the inaugural festa of the SS Crocifisso in Australia, the Committee invited Mons. Cornelio Femia, a native clergyman of Grotteria, to celebrate the religious ceremony.

The story of the SS. Crocifisso, is that in February 1745 in Grotteria, there was a violent storm that caused many victims and huge damages to all the territory.  The Grotteresi terrorised from what could still happen, decided to entrust themselves to the SS. Crocifisso carrying it in procession through the town; miraculously the fury of the storm ceased.  As a gesture of thanks, the faithful chose the SS. Crocifisso to be the new Patron Saint of Grotteria, in substitution of Saint Gaudioso, the patron saint since the year 1000.

The devotion for the Christ Crocifisso, was handed on through the generations for centuries and is infinitely in the lives and in the heart for those Grotterisani that live farthest from their native country.

During the years since it was formed, generous amounts of money has been raised and given to hospitals, aged care and other worthwhile causes in line with the commitment the Association has given to helping those less well off.

© 2008 Nick Bruzzese & SS Crocifisso: | Contact |