The mass was celebrated by Archbishop of Melbourne James Robert Knox and eight Italian and Australian priests.
Members of many Italian clubs and associations from around Victoria attended, as well as the Consul General of Italy in Melbourne, Mario Ferrari di Carpi, and the president of the Comitato Italiano di Coordinamento, Luciano Bini.
The ceremony was followed by lively celebrations outside the cathedral, including a performance by the newly-formed Giuseppe Verdi band, directed by Maestro Marcianò.
A breakfast was hosted by Consul General Ferrarri di Carpi at the Riviera Hall, in West Melbourne, before some 400 Italians returned home to their various towns and suburbs on reserved buses.
Pictured in the photo is a group of women in regional Italian costumes and Carabinieri in their uniforms outside St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Photo: Marzella.
