Recently Viewed Products
Recently Viewed Categories
At the end of June, a State Department official called the shop and asked for advice on a papal gift, said Louis DiCocco 3d. The official first suggested an antique chalice, but then gave up the idea, hoping for something with more historical significance.
DiCocco and his brother Robert began discussing possibilities. They called their contacts in the Catholic community. When they phoned the National Shrine of St. John Neumann, officials there suggested the stole, Louis DiCocco said.
"We told [State Department officials] that we had something very precious, representing Catholic history in America and specifically Philadelphia history," Louis DiCocco said.
State Department officials thought the sash of St. John Neumann was perfect.
The ivory stole, with gold, crimson, and blue trim, was wrapped around the body of Neumann, the first U.S. bishop to be named a saint.
On July 1, DiCocco placed Neumann's stole in a box, drove it to Washington, and hand-delivered it to State Department officials.
"How many times do you get a chance to do something not once, but twice for the Holy Father?" DiCocco said.
Norma DiCocco, 80, calls it a highlight of her 45 years in a family business that she calls a ministry. More...
