Members of the International Society of SS. Cosma & Damiano, guests, parishioners and community residents packed St. Helen’s Church on Sunday afternoon for a celebratory mass to mark the long-awaited opening of the Shrine of SS. Cosma & Damiano.
The Shrine represents the fulfillment of a “special promise” made by Joseph DeCandia Sr., who founded the Society in 1978. Current President, Joseph DeCandia Jr. spoke from the pulpit about his father’s great devotion to his beloved saints.
“If you knew my father, then you know that he referred to the saints lovingly as “his boys.” DeCandia explained his fathers “mission”–to share the wonderful work done by the saints with his entire local community. He vowed to spread the word by erecting shrines to the saints in each of three local churches: Nativity BVM, Our Lady of Grace and finally St. Helen’s.
With shrines already having been built at Nativity and OLG, Sunday’s opening at St. Helen’s was the final step in DeCandia Sr’s pledge to spread the word of the works and blessings of the saints.
In a bittersweet moment, Joe DeCandia Jr. turned his head from the audience and looking toward the ceiling said simply, “Dad, mission completed.”
Since the inception of its not-for-profit status, established in 1990, The Internatinal Society of SS. Cosma& Damiano has raised and donated more than 1.5 million for charities involving serious health issues, especially those focused on children.
Among the recipients of the Society’s donations are St. Judes Childrens Hospital, St, Francis, Make a Wish, Ronald McDonald House, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
