Italian Consul General Adriano Monti presented Josette Mentesana Weber with the Cavaliere dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana at the consulate’s Festa della Repubblica celebration on June 2 at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago. The award was bestowed by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano upon Josette in honor of her contributions to the preservation of the Italian language and culture in the Chicago area. “This honor would have made my parents very happy and proud,” Josette said. “To me, it is both an exhortation and a responsibility to do more for our community, especially for the …

  Senatore Renato Turano presented Dominic Candeloro with the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia at the Festa della Repubblica celebration hosted by Italian Consul General Adriano Monti on June 2 at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago. The award was bestowed by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano upon Dominic in honor of his academic and community efforts on behalf of Italian-American studies. “It is a wonderful honor that I never expected,” Dominic says. “I only wish that my mother and father were still alive to share the pride. The award is similar to the medals that my father …

  Senatore Renato Turano presented Shirley Fedeli with the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia at the Festa della Repubblica celebration hosted by Italian Consul General Adriano Monti on June 2 at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago. The award was bestowed by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano upon Shirley in honor of her enormous contributions to the cultural life of the Rockford-area Italian-American community. “It was one of the most breathtaking feelings I’ve ever experienced!” Shirley exclaimed. “It was so wonderful to be there with my amazing Rockford friends and my entire family, particularly my husband, Gene, and …

  It was a Festa della Repubblica the likes of which Chicago had never witnessed. On June 2, more than 400 revelers converged on the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on historic Taylor Street to enjoy a gala event staged by Onesti Entertainment. The event was sponsored by the Chicago offices of the Italian Consulate General, Italian Cultural Institute and Italian Trade Agency as well as the Italian American Chamber of Commerce-Midwest and Onesti Entertainment. “The Hall of Fame was the perfect setting, and Onesti Entertainment took the event to a new level,” Consul General Adriano Monti stated. …

  The Person of the Year Gala is easily the most important fundraiser of the year for Casa Italia, and this year’s honoree came through with flying colors. Tens of thousands of dollars were raised for the Casa on the strength of Louis C. Cairo’s charisma, love of family, passion for his heritage, and expansive network of devoted friends and associates. Among them was his extended family at Goldman Weisman and Cairo (GWC), which has emerged as Illinois’ largest injury law firm under the stewardship of Lou and his partner, Michael B. Goldberg. Scores of well-wishers from the many labor …

  The Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization one-upped itself at this year’s Honor & Hope Gala, bestowing 20 scholarships at $2,500 each, plus an additional $35,000 in grants to two military veterans and three families with medical hardships, for a grand total of $85,000. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who was made an honorary CIACO member at the event, introduced Dominic Saverino Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient Joe Calafiore. Bridget Fretz received a CIACO grant to assist with the care of her son, Austin, a veteran who was critically injured in a car accident after completion of his …

  The Feast of San Rocco di Potenza at St. William Church in Chicago is sponsored by Congregazione di San Rocco di Potenza. It features a noon Mass on Aug. 16, followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago, the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and a family festival with food and live entertainment. An anointing Mass will be celebrated earlier in the month. (Sal Aloisio, 773-551-2604)

  The Feast of San Rocco di Simbario at St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church in Chicago is sponsored by the Society of San Rocco di Simbario. It features a 9 a.m. procession on Aug. 16with candle houses and a 10:30 a.m. Mass, followed by a procession with Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana, the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and kissing of the holy relic of San Rocco, and a buffet dinner afterward. A Novena will be celebrated on Aug. 15. (Bruno Bertucci, 312-446-0504)

  The Feast of San Lorenzo is sponsored by the Amaseno La Loggia #3 di Chicago Heights. Festivities culminate on Aug. 16 with an 11 a.m. Mass at the San Rocco Sanctuary in Chicago Heights, before and after which the statues of San Lorenzo and San Rocco will be carried in procession from and to the Amaseno Lodge. A street festival with live entertainment will run from Aug. 14 to 16. (708-755-2982)

    The Justinian Society of Lawyers swore in its 2015-2016 officers in May. Pictured from left are Cook County Circuit Judge Regina Ann Scannicchio, secretary; Natalie M. Petric, treasurer; Vincent R. Vidmer, third vice president; Michael F. Bonamarte IV, second vice president; Frank A. Sommario, first vice president; and Jessica T. DePinto, president. Retired Judge Gloria Coco presided over the swearing-in ceremony. The officers will be officially installed at the society’s awards dinner on Sept. 16 at the Chicago Palmer House. The Rev. Michael Garanzini, president of Loyola University Chicago, will receive the Society’s Award of Excellence at the …