History Of The Shrine

The San Silverio Shrine of Dover Plains was built by the Ponzesi people as a way of preserving a piece of our Italian heritage in the United States, and showing our devotion to our patron saint, Saint Silverio. Every year people of Ponzese ancestry come from all over the United States, Canada, and Italy to enjoy the festivals that are held at the Shrine. The largest, of course, is the Festival of Saint Silverio, which attracts well over 1,000 people each year. It is the focal point of Ponzese culture, and continues to grow every year.

While San Silverio died largely unlamented by his contemporaries, the citizens of the neighboring island of Ponza would not forget the virtuous man that would briefly touch their lives. Through the years the Ponzese have remembered and revered St. Silverio, and have carried their devotion with them wherever they settled in the world. Many of the Ponzese would come to New York in the early to mid-twentieth century and settled in the Morisania section of the Bronx. Centered at Our Lady of Pity Church on 151st Street and Morris Avenue, they would continue to celebrate the Festival of San Silverio just as they had for hundreds of years on their native island of Ponza. In 1954, the Ponzese donated a small shrine to the church.

As the Ponzese prospered in the United States, a group lead by Ercito Mazzella believed it was time to build a more inspiring monument dedicated to Saint Silverio. He facilitated the purchase of an 81-acre tract of land in Dover Plains, New York, and through the donations of many people, the San Silverio Shrine of Dover Plains was born. In 1962, the first annual San Silverio Dinner and Dance was held to help support the construction of the Shrine. On November 18, 1963 the San Silverio Shrine was officially incorporated. With Ercito Mazzella as acting president, a provisional Board of Directors was picked to organize the membership and hold an election. In June 1964, the mass and festival of San Silverio was celebrated for the first time in Dover Plains. On October 4, 1964, the first official general membership meeting was held. The corporation's by-laws were read and adopted, followed by nominations for the first board elections. The first election was held on November 1, 1964. The newly elected board was sworn on December 6, before their first official meeting under new president, Dr. Luigi Mazzella.

In 1965, the mass of St. Silverio was celebrated for the first time at the newly completed chapel. The Shrine continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the growing society, and in the 1970's the picnic ground shelter and playground were added. The shelter can accommodate up to 1,500 people. The Stations of the Cross walkway was added in the early 1980's, followed by the pool and tennis courts. The Luigi Zecca Memorial Pavilion was completed in 1993, and in 2001, the most recent major addition, a baseball field, was completed.

The Shrine has over six hundred members in 10 states.