NEW YORK - With a warm sun in a blue, cloudless sky as the setting, the annual feast of St. Anthony, June 13, drew record crowds of faithful followers to St. Francis Church in New York City which opened the feast day at 7 a.m. with Mass and the distribution of St. Anthony's bread to passersby.

The day started off with an innovation - a blessing of the guests on the breadline. At 7 a.m., Jerome Massimino, joined by several friars, read a short prayer and then walked the length of the line to sprinkle the guests with holy water. In addition to the standard daily meal of juice, fruit, and sandwich and coffee, each guest was handed a small bag containing a prayer card and medal of St. Anthony, as well as a piece of blessed St. Anthony's Bread.

For many years now, Thomas Walters has coordinated the distribution of St. Anthony's Bread under a large tent in the 32nd Street Courtyard. Boxes of bread, stacked up eight feet high, awaited the thousands who passed through.

"The folks were hungry," Tom commented after giving away some 80,000 loaves. Throughout the day, Tom is assisted by Vincent Pisani, who for many years has been a strong presence, together with dozens of lay volunteers who annually take a day off from work in order to be part of the experience. 

The Masses and devotions which are a typical part of the feast day were all well-attended to the point where many of them were standing-room only. In addition to the regular schedule of nine daily Masses, additional Masses were celebrated in Italian, Spanish, French, English and Korean.  The street is echoed with the musical sounds of the singers.  Among the friars celebrating Masses were pastor Jerome Massimino, Anthony Carrozzo, Brian Jordan, Tim Shreenan, Miguel Loredo and Kevin Tortorelli.