Fra Noi

Fra Noi produces a magazine and website that serve the Chicago-area Italian-American community. Our magazine offers our readers a monthly feast of news and views, culture and entertainment that keeps our diverse and widely scattered readers in touch with each other and their heritage. Our website offers a dizzying array of information drawn from every corner of the local community.

Consul General hosts glittering Festa della Repubblica

  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. …

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Superlawyer Cairo comes through for Casa Italia

  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 …

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CIACO hosts stellar Honor & Hope gala

  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 …

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Feast of San Rocco di Potenza

  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)

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Feast of San Rocco di Simbario

  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)

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Feast of San Lorenzo

  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)

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Justinians elect officers

    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 …

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OSIA state lodge elects officers

    The IL/WI Grand Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in America held its 46th biennial convention in June. Elected to the Grand Council were Marie Marsalli, president; Frank Schiro, first vice president; Maria Mancini, second vice president; Richard Della Croce, immediate past president; James LasCola, orator; Judith Simoni, recording secretary; John Simoni, financial secretary; Carl Busateri, treasurer; Elia Kress, historian; the Rev. John Belmonte, chaplain; and Margurite Rowley, Christine Della Croce, Joseph Dentice and Anna DeLuca, trustees. Recently elected lodge presidents include Giacomo Mancini, Bert Jacobson, Anthony DiMiele, Joseph Emanuele, Ben Todaro, Leonard DePasquale and Paul Loparco. …

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Pompeii hosts Festa della Repubblica

  Chicago was blessed with two Festa della Repubblica celebrations this year, with the first being held on May 31 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. The Pompeii event has the distinction of being the only such celebration in America that involved a parade through the streets of the city. Following a Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, hundreds of participants made their way down Taylor Street for a wreath-laying ceremony at Garibaldi Park, at which World War II veteran Adelco D’ascezo was honored.

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Biasiello earns advanced degree

  Gina Ann Biasiello received her doctor of physical therapy degree from Marymount University in Arlington, Va., in May. She previously received her bachelor of science degree in biology from Loyola University Chicago and her master of science degree in biology from Northeastern Illinois University. She is presently finishing her clinical studies at the Woodbine Facility in Alexandria, Va. The daughter Dr. and Mrs. Michael Biasiello of Arlington Heights, Gina is pictured here with her brothers, Michael Jr. and Dominic.  

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