Eighty years ago, John Provenzano’s parents purchased a white baptismal gown and bonnet from Sibley’s department store in preparation for their infant son’s baptism at Rochester’s Blessed Sacrament Church. They likely had no idea the gown would become a lasting part of the fabric of their family’s faith story.
Earlier this summer, however, 7-week-old Enza Giorgi became the 11th family member to be baptized in the gown. She was baptized at Blessed Sacrament, and her initials were embroidered inside the gown alongside those of the family members who’ve worn it before her.
“It’s just a really special sort of living history for our family,” remarked Enza’s mother, Rachel Provenzano Giorgi, who wore the gown when she was baptized in 1987.
A new mother’s question leads to a lasting tradition
After John Provenzano wore the gown in 1946, his younger brothers, Ronald and Donald, wore it for their baptisms in 1947 and 1952, respectively. The gown and its matching bonnet then spent the next two decades in a box in the attic at the Provenzano family home as the three brothers grew up.
By 1973, John Provenzano and his wife, Mary Jo, were preparing for the baptism of their first child, Daniel.
“I asked my mother-in-law if she had a baptismal gown, because my mom didn’t have mine. We’d moved multiple times after I was baptized,” Mary Jo Provenzano recalled. “Her attic was chock full of stuff, but she knew right where it was. It was in beautiful shape.”
The women carefully hand-washed the gown and bonnet, which at that point were nearly 30 years old.
“We were afraid to use the washing machine because they were so old,” Mary Jo Provenzano explained.
Daniel Provenzano wore the gown for his baptism that year, and his younger sister, Jana Provenzano, was baptized in the gown in 1977. Giorgi, the daughter of Donald Provenzano, wore the gown 10 years later in 1987, then it was packed away again for nearly two decades.
In 2004, Jana and Bil DeAscentiis had their first child and decided to continue the family tradition. Lola, Ruby and Marco DeAscentiis wore the gown for their baptisms in 2004, 2007 and 2009, respectively.
“This is something special,” Bil DeAscentiis said of the tradition. “It’s been passed down for so long, and the gown is such an heirloom.”
A third generation takes up the family tradition
Lola DeAscentiis’ baptism in 2004 marked the first time the gown was worn by a third generation of family members, and the family began to realize just how special their tradition was, Giorgi recalled.
“That’s when my aunt decided that now that this is the third generation, we should make this into a living record of sorts,” she said.
Mary Jo Provenzano took the gown to a local embroidery shop and had the initials and baptismal years of each child who’d worn the gown embroidered inside the garment. Each time another child is baptized, his or her initials and baptismal dates are added to the gown.
“It’s cool just to see that there,” Giorgi said. “We were able to find some old photos and see my dad wearing this gown. Now my kids are wearing it. It’s kind of crazy that it’s been around that long and it’s been preserved.”
DeAscentiis said his children were excited to see their baby cousin wearing the gown when Giorgi’s first child, Leo, was baptized in 2025 and again when Enza was baptized July 12. And as she watched the baptism, Mary Jo Provenzano found herself reflecting on the grandparents who’d watched previous generations wear the gown.
“It makes you think of all the grandparents that aren’t here anymore. It’s real heartwarming,” she said.
Gown is a tangible sign of family’s faith
The gown is more than just a fun, heartwarming tradition, however. It also reminds the family and everyone they come in contact with that their Catholic faith has long been a priority and continues to be so to this day, Mary Jo Provenzano said.
“It’s kind of like a record of baptismal dates, which in today’s society, I don’t even think people talk about anymore,” she said.
“I think it’s almost a physical embodiment of not only my faith, but the family’s faith, and it’s something that really ties us together in a tangible way,” Giorgi added. “With faith, there’s a lot of intangibles there. To be able to see it in a physical object, that’s really special.”
Tags: Faith Formation, Monroe County East, Sacramental Preparation
