Saint James Roman Catholic Church is located in Penns Grove, New Jersey. It belongs to the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey. The cornerstone of the church was laid on July 25, 1920. The first elementary school classes were conducted in the 1921-22 school year. A high school was added in 1928. The location of the church is available on Wikimapia.
Located inside Penns Grove’s Saint James Roman Catholic Church is a statue of the Madonna. This statue was brought to Penns Grove from the Province of Teramo in Abruzzo. In all liklihood it was constructed in the town of Campli, about 6 miles to the north of Valle San Giovanni. In one particular neighborhood called Nocella there were once several workshops of religious icons. Ceramic pieces of this genre were laboriously constructed and then baked in the large oven kilns that once existed there. Below several representative works.
.Saint James RC Church was constructed largely by Italians who had immigrated to Penns Grove. A good number of these individuals came from Valle San Giovanni in Abruzzo Italy. Located about seven miles from this small village is the eponymous provincial capital, Teramo. Teramo’s second most important church is the Chiesa di Maria Santissima dell’Annunziata more commonly referred to as Santuario Madonna delle Grazie (Mother of Grace Sanctuary). It was once a convent and dates back to the 12th century. The church houses many relics and works of art. On the main altar is a 15th century polychromatic wooden statue of the seated Madonna and Child. Each year on the 2nd of July Teramo hosts an annual celebration in honor of the Mother of Grace, its protectorate. The statue serves as the destination for pilgrims who leave offerings (ex voto) at Mary’s feet. A replica of Teramo’s statue of the Madonna was constructed in Italy in the mid 1920’s and shipped to the Saint James Roman Catholic in Penns Grove where it remains. The Penns Grove statue depicts the Madonna standing. Beginning 2 July, 1925 a festivity similar to the one in Teramo is held each year. During the celebration an outdoor procession took place in which enthusiastic parishioners bid on the privilege of carrying the statue through Penns Grove.
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