The Life of St. Rita of Cascia Day 7

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Day 7 ~ St. Rita: Augustinian Nun Rita was now about thirty-five years of age. Her husband and children were dead and inevitable changes would take place in her daily living. Often during the day and in prayer, she wondered whether she should stay on in her home in the little village of Rocca Porena or whether the Lord wanted something else of her. Deep promptings in her heart seemed to be calling her to a life of service, penance, and prayer at the Augustinian convent in nearby Cascia, Perhaps even twenty years later the Lord was still calling her to the cloister. On arriving at the convent next to the Augustinian Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Rita was graciously welcomed by the Mother Superior. Though Rita did not think herself worthy to live there among the other nuns, she asked to enter because she was sure that God was calling her to this very convent. However, the Mother Superior responded, "We only accept young unmarried women into our community. We don't accept widows." Moreover, some of the religious of the community were relatives to the members of the political factions considered responsible for Paolo's death, and so as not to tempt the harmony of the convent, Rita's request for admissions was denied. Twice more Rita would walk back along the river to Cascia and each time be refused entrance again. She implored her three patron saints-John the Baptist, Augustine, and Nicholas of Tolentine-to assist her, and she set about the task of establishing peace between the hostile parties of Cascia. Her success was so great that her entry into the monastery was finally assured. The Life of St. Rita of Cascia .

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NOMINATION OF HISTORIC BUILDING, STRUCTURE, SITE, OR OBJECT PHILADELPHIA REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBMIT ALL ATTACHED MATERIALS ON PAPER AND IN ELECTRONIC FORM (CD, EMAIL, FLASH DRIVE) ELECTRONIC FILES MUST BE WORD OR WORD COMPATIBLE 1. ADDRESS OF HISTORIC RESOURCE (must comply with an Office of Property Assessment address) Street address:__________________________________________________________1156-62 S Broad Street ________ Postal code:_______________19146 Councilmanic District:______2nd ____________________ 2. NAME OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Historic Name:__________________________________________________________Roman Catholic Church of St. Rita of Cascia ________ Current/Common Name:________National___________________________________________________ Shrine; St. Rita of Cascia 3. TYPE OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Building Structure Site Object 4. PROPERTY INFORMATION Occupancy: occupied vacant under construction unknown Current use:____________________________________________________________Active worship site ________ 5. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION See attached. 6. DESCRIPTION See attached. 7. SIGNIFICANCE Please attach the Statement of Significance. Period of Significance (from year to year): from _________1900 to _________present Date(s) of construction and/or alteration:_____________________________________1907-08 _________ Architect, engineer, and/or designer:________________________________________George I. Lovatt, AIA _________ Builder, contractor, and/or artisan:__________________________________________Melody
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View Full History of St. Rita's Church
The first Italian families in Cohoes missed much of the reassuring presence of a parish priest. In the church, they could neither understand nor could they be understood. Up to 1892, the nearest Italian churches were St. Anthony of Padua in Troy and Our Lady of Carmel in Watervliet. Seldom did they undertake the then long journey, for their work did not give them that leisure at the hour of masses. This deplorable situation, however, was soon remedied by the zealous bishops of Albany, who exerted themselves in procuring the services of Italian priests. Among them was the Rev. Metellus Galanti, whose entire priestly life is intimately connected with the development of St. Rita’s Parish. In 1913 Father Galanti first began to work for the founding of a congregation among Italian residents in the city of Cohoes. He believed that there should be a permanent place of worship for the 150 families in the city. His petition to go forward with the work was approved by Bishop Thomas M. A. Burke, but his transfer to the pastorate of St. Anthony’s Church in Troy ended his direct connection with this project for the time. Even though the Parish Corporation had been established, there was still no church building. Therefore, from 1914 to January 1916, Father Ottaviano and other priests celebrated Masses in the basement of St. Joseph’s Church on Congress Street. Finally, a two-story building was bought at 153 Main Street at the corner of Newark Street. Father Metellus A. Galanti was named Administrator in May of 1930 and, shortly after, was named as Pastor.
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