SCRANTON, Pa. — As hundreds descend on Saint Ann's Basilica in west Scranton. Families come from far and wide to celebrate the 100 years of the Novena on Thursday.
"It's kind of in memory of my grandfather and grandmother who used to come up here all the time," said Steve Sutton of Allentown.
For Steve Sutton and his nephew Patrick, it's a trip that's been handed down from generation to generation. One that spans all 100 years of the novena.
"Someone in the family has come to everyone so far," added Sutton.
For the Suttons, it all started at the food stand.
"it was hot, and it was the one that used to sell pizzas. That's the one she worked at," said Sutton.
Decades later, the lines are long, and the ovens are roaring a stark change from 100 years ago.
"It started out as a tent at the top of the hill. Then, it was two tents, one on the top and one on the bottom on the ground in the mud. People still showed up and worked," said Nancy Tora, food stand manager.
But the one thing that hasn't changed is the people who make it happen.
"We have women frying pizza frites for years. It's almost generational," added Tora.
"When you do it for so many years, you know what you're doing," said Angela Gard, a volunteer.
Angela Gard is flattening out pizza frites faster than they can fry them.
"I did this for my whole life, I did it for St. Lucy's when they had it," added Gard.
It's volunteers like her, who keep this tradition up and running for so many decades.
"Their passion is that strong and believe, and they have that faith, and they're keeping it going," said Tora.
Just as they have from the very beginning, families carrying on 100 years of tradition before them.
"It's really special. My grandmother used to attend daily mass here. This goes back, but she never missed any mass," said Sutton.
Hoping to carve a path for the next 100 more.