Dunmorean of the Month: Fr. David Cappelloni

Posted on May 1, 2024 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Father David Cappelloni–pastor of SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, both in Dunmore–was raised by devout Italian parents. Going to Mass for the early 8 a.m. service was always a part of his family’s weekly Sunday tradition. There were six children, five of them boys, in the family.

Their local pastor at the time, Msgr Anthony Marra, would often ask Father Cappelloni’s mom if her sons could help in the parish. The annual pasta dinner would serve over 5,000 people. Homemade pasta, meatballs, bread, cannoli and drinks were served. Most of the women in the parish did the cooking.

And Msgr. Marra, who came often to the family home to play cards at night, inspired Father Cappelloni to enter the priesthood.

Msgr. Marra took him to visit St. Pius X Seminary in the diocese one day. Young David was captivated by it and later made the decision to enter the priesthood. But he first took a job in New York City working in a department store after his senior year in college. Then his calling came as he decided to go back to the seminary and become a priest.

Father Cappelloni has been pastor of Sts. Anthony and Rocco Parish, 303 Smith St., Dunmore, since 2007. He has been pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 322 Chestnut St., Dunmore, since June 2023. He is also in charge of St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Father Cappelloni is Dean to the Deanery covering many parishes in the area. It covers parishes from Olyphant to Moscow. Father Cappelloni said he feels his best accomplishment is celebrating the Mass and Eucharist and experiencing the Body of Christ.

He is also responsible for many of the buildings owned by the three parishes. He is also chairman of many of the parishes’ societies and committees. He serves as the religious representative for the Dunmore Bucks football team. He has led the team in prayer before every game for the past 17 years.

Father Cappelloni received a bachelor of science degree in Human Services from the University of Scranton in 1981 and he also earned a master of science in Psychology from Marywood University. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1986 after receiving a Master in Divinity from Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, PA.

“My ongoing goal is to bring both of these Dunmore parishes together into the community,” he said. “I want to bring them together and work together as one community of parishes in Dunmore. I want to see them come together as a church. It’s a great way to build and unify the community. We have a great spirit between the two churches and it’s very positive.”

Known for his love of Italian cooking, he is the pastor for the annual Sts. Anthony and Rocco Festival held each August in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore. The festival features a wide variety of ethnic foods dating back to over a century.

Father Cappelloni said the annual Sts. Anthony and Rocco Festival will be held on the parish grounds August 9-10-11.

“It really brings the people together,” he said. “It’s a great way to build and unify the community.

“It’s a festival where we all come together in a different way. We have over 100 volunteers helping each night. It is truly a community event.”

Doin’ Dunmore: SS. Anthony & Rocco Parish carry tradition for over 100 years

Posted on August 2, 2023 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

It’s been a tradition in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore since 1906, making it 117 years old..

SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish will hold its annual Italian Festival Aug. 11, 12 and 13 at 122 Kurtz Street in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore.

The annual event is noted for its delicious Italian foods and pastries and musical entertainment, but the highlight is always the annual Feast Day Mass to be held this year Saturday, Aug. 12, at noon, followed by the annual Procession with Statues of the Saints at 1 p.m.

Started in 1906 in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore, the procession has taken place every year, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was broadcast on social media in the first year of the pandemic.

The actual Feast Day is Aug. 16, so the procession is always held the closest weekend prior to the Feast unless it falls on Sunday.

Many families participate in the procession together. It symbolizes the strength of their parish family.

Rev. David Cappelloni, pastor of SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish, who blesses the people with a relic of Saint Rocco at a special Mass before the procession, said the event helps the parish have an identity.

“We carry the statues of St.Rocco, St.Anthony, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph through the neighborhood to remind people of who we are and who we are called to be,” Rev. Cappelloni said. “The procession of our patron saints are carried throughout the Bunker Hill section to show and signify that we, ourselves, are also striving to become saints.”

After leaving the church, the procession travels throughout the streets of the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore with the patron saints carried on beams by the men of the parish. The parish priest accompanies the procession and blesses bystanders with a relic of Saint Rocco. A band usually follows the procession.

In addition to the special Mass and procession, the Dunmore community always celebrates its annual three-day festival the same weekend.

Those who walk in the procession of faith often pray for others or someone in remembrance. The tradition also carries on with few changes each year. It’s all about family, tradition, and mostly faith.

Saint Rocco, the protector against deadly plagues, is considered the patron saint of Guardia de Lombardi. Veneration to this Saint dates back to 1656 when a deadly plague and drought swept through the Italian town, killing 1,110 of its 1,475 residents. Guardia’s first procession in honor of St. Rocco took place that year when the remaining townspeople prayed to him to bring rain and to end the aggressive plague.

By the time the Guardiese immigrants arrived in Dunmore, the procession to Saint Rocco had been an integral part of life in their Italian community for more than 250 years.When Italian immigrants settled in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore, they continued many of the same traditions. The annual procession is one of them

.In the early 1900’s the Guardiese community in Dunmore had become so large that members decided to found their own church. About 40 families banded together and called themselves the Society for Congregation of Saint Rocco’s Church. They traveled door to door within the community to solicit funds to purchase a church building from a Presbyterian congregation in the neighborhood.

The first Mass at Saint Rocco’s Church was held in October, 1905. The first procession to honor Saint Rocco took place the following August.

The annual festival was added to the procession in 1922. Initially, members prepared food at the stoves of the church basement and carried it outside in bowls to sell on the grounds.

Father Cappelloni said SS. Anthony and Rocco are now linked to Our Lady of Mount Carmel where he also serves as pastor. The three-day festival will run 5 to 9:30 p.m. the first two nights and noon to 9:30 the final day.

The Dunmore High School marching band and cheerleaders will perform the first night at 6 p.m, followed by the band, Picture Perfect, at 7 p.m. The band, Popstar Drive, will perform Saturday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.

Following the Feast Day Mass at noon and Procession of Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Vinsko Entertainment with provide music at 2:30 p.m. followed by the Scranton Prep cheerleaders at 5:30 p.m, and the Luongo Brothers Band at 6 p.m. There will be fireworks at dusk.

Then there is the delicious Italian food, pastries, and desserts to fill and satisfy the palate. That includes sausage and peppers, pasta fagioli, porketta, shells, tripe, delicious pizza, Italian pastries, cookies, cakes and desserts ,ice cream, snow cones, pizza fritta, cannolis and anything else Italian. Oh, the pasta fagioli! And let’s not forget the beer tent, wine, coffee, cappuccino, crispy potato pancakes and french fries, lemonade and root beer floats. A new desert item, Gelato, has been added this year.

It’s an event in Dunmore not to be missed and a tradition that is sure to go on forever.

Holy Name Society Gathers for Annual Communion Breakfast

Posted on March 6, 2019 by The Dunmorean

Holy Name #1

Saints Anthony and Rocco Parish Holy Name Society, Dunmore held its 62nd Annual Communion Breakfast on Sunday, Feb. 3, at La Buona Vita.

The day began with 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church celebrated by the Reverend David P. Cappelloni, pastor.

Music was provided by the parish choir under the direction of Joseph Moffitt.

Teddy Michel, Regional Director of Ignatian Volunteer Corps of NEPA and principal speaker, at right was presented with society’s Pio Ferrario Christian Witness Award by Father Cappelloni, left.

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Holy Name #2

Breakfast speakers and committee members for the SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish Holy Name Society, included, seated from left: Rev. David P. Cappelloni, pastor; Teddy Michel, principal speaker and honoree, and Atty. Frank Castellano, toastmaster.

Standing, same order: Robert McCormack, president, who gave opening remarks, and Rick Sabato, general chairman.

Also on the committee were: Dennis Lalley and Carlo Pisa, cochairmen; Michael Colangelo and James Colangelo, raffle, and Robert McCormack, president.