A loop of Dyker Heights streets closes for an hour as a procession honors Maria SS. Addolorata, Our Lady of Sorrows, whose feast falls in mid-September. It is organized by Figli Maria SS. Addolorata, a Pugliese devotional association founded in Bensonhurst in 2007, carrying on south Brooklyn's Italian procession tradition. If you want to see Italian-American Brooklyn keeping the faith, catch it as it passes.
What to expect
Expect a slow-moving procession on foot along 15th Avenue, Bay Ridge Parkway, 13th Avenue and Bay Ridge Avenue, with the streets fully closed as it goes by. Onlookers line the sidewalks. Past processions by this group have included society members, clergy, grand marshals, and balloons bearing images of the Madonna.
Good to know
- The D train along New Utrecht Avenue (71 St stop) is the closest subway
- The procession is short, so arrive on time and pick a spot along the route
- The streets on the loop are fully closed; don't plan to drive through
- It's a religious observance, so dress and behave respectfully
- Watching from the sidewalk is open to anyone and good for families
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
What is Maria SS. Addolorata?
It's the Italian name for Our Lady of Sorrows, a title of the Virgin Mary whose feast is celebrated in September. Many southern Italian towns honor her with processions, and Brooklyn's Italian communities carry on the tradition.
Where does the procession go?
The permitted route loops through Dyker Heights along 15th Avenue between 72nd and 73rd Streets, Bay Ridge Parkway, 13th Avenue and Bay Ridge Avenue.
Who organizes it?
Figli Maria SS. Addolorata, a Pugliese Italian Catholic cultural association founded in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in 2007 by people devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows.
