The 108th annual Fisherman’s Feast in honor of The Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca, Boston’s oldest continuous Italian festival, brought back many special memories this weekend, from both Sicily and the North End, going back many years for me.

If you grew up in the North End, you obviously loved the Sicilian heritage, but if you grew up in any part of Boston, you also grew to admire the Italian history and culture. Most Irish families in Boston certainly did. Maybe not necessarily the exquisite culinary culture, but certainly in its family and religious traditions. The annual religious procession through the streets of the North End on Sunday demonstrated to thousands of visiting tourists what is very special about Boston. Heritage, respect and faith.