Community News – Fra Noi

St. Joseph’s Tables abound in March

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:03:22 +0000

The St. Joseph Table at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Photo by Carmel Salerno)

Each March, dozens of Italian families, organizations, parishes and businesses across the Chicago area open up their doors and their hearts to the less fortunate by setting up St. Joseph’s Tables. At press time, information was available only on the events in this listing. To be listed next year, call 708-338-0690 or email info@franoi.com.

MARCH 2
ST. WILLIAM CHURCH (Chicago) | 4 p.m. Mass followed by a traditional meatless St. Joseph’s Table | Adults, $25; children 7-14, $8; 6 and under, free | Tickets must be bought in advance | Sponsored by the San Rocco di Potenza Society to benefit the Feast of St. Rocco and St. William School | Nancy Konrath, 708-502-3600

MARCH 3
ZACHARY CHURCH (Des Plaines) | Traditional meatless buffet meal from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | 847-956-7020

MARCH 9
ST. FRANCIS BORGIA CHURCH (Chicago) | 4 p.m. Mass in English and 6:30 p.m. Mass in Italian with buffet meal from many regions of Italy and sweet table after each Mass | Donations appreciated | Sponsored by ICF Branch #392 | Teresa Helfand, 773-763-0507

MARCH 13
COLUMBIAN CLUB OF CHICAGO | Venuti’s (Addison) | Cocktails, 6:30 p.m.; blessing of the food, 7 p.m., sit-down dinner, 7:30 p.m. | tickets: $100 | Reservations required | Gabe Caporale, 708-473-7334; Peter Volpe, 773-988-0507
JOINT CIVIC COMMITTEE OF ITALIAN AMERICANS, WOMEN’S DIVISION | Trattoria Porretta (Chicago) | 6:30 p.m. | Combined celebration of St. Joseph’s Day and Festa della Donna, including a salute to women authors | Buy and bring a new book written by an Italian-American woman to exchange with other attendees | Tickets: $50 | Reservations required | 708-450-9050

MARCH 15
MISSIONARY SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO | Buffet meal, noon to 8 p.m. | Melrose Park Senior Building (900 N. 25th Ave.) | Donations appreciated | 708-343-2162

MARCH 16-17
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH (Rockford) | March 16, blessing of altar after 4:30 p.m. Mass; March 17, altar on display and serving of pasta con le sarde from noon to 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | 815-965-2761

MARCH 17
MAZZINI VERDI LADIES CLUB (Franklin Park) | 1 p.m. Mass, 3 p.m. dinner | Adults, $55; children under 12, $20 | Reservations required | Maria Banducci, 630-443-8722; Maria Casali, 773-589-0388
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL PARISH (Melrose Park) | 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by a procession with the Holy Family to the statue of San Pio; 12:30 p.m. traditional St. Joseph’s Table | Entertainment | Donation: $15 | Sponsored by Società Fedeli di S. Pio-Chicago | Pete Camaci, 630-217-7415; Elio Bartolotta, 630-935-1688
ST. EMILY CHURCH (Mt. Prospect) | Noon blessing followed by traditional meatless meal and sweets until 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | Proceeds to benefit St. Vincent DePaul Society | 847-824-5049
ST. JEROME CHURCH (Chicago) | 9:30 a.m. Mass followed by a buffet meal at the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | 312-842-1871
ST. PETER THE APOSTLE (Itasca) | 11:30 a.m. Mass followed by a procession and full dinner with sweet table from 12:30 to 2 p.m. | Donations appreciated | Proceeds to benefit the St. Peter the Apostle Poor Fund | 630-773-1272
ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE (Addison) | Buffet meal from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | Proceeds to benefit DuPage County charities | Sponsored by the Americans of Italian Descent of DuPage County | Gino Dattilo, 630-699-0299
ST. TARCISSUS PARISH (Chicago) | 11:30 a.m. Mass followed by procession, blessing and buffet meal with sweet table until 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | 773-763-8228

MARCH 19
CAFE SAN FRANCESCO (Chicago) | Buffet dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. | Requested minimum donation: $10 | Proceeds to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | 773-283-1117
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH (Chicago) | Mass at 6 p.m., traditional meatless meal with sweet table after Mass | Donations appreciated | 773-775-3833
ST. STEPHEN CHURCH (Des Plaines) | 6 p.m. Mass followed by buffet meal and sweet table from 7 to 8 p.m. | Sponsored by Mary, Mother of Martyrs Parish (Des Plaines) | Donations appreciated | 847-824-2026

MARCH 23
QUEEN OF PEACE PARISH (Chicago) | First seating, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; second seating, 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. | Traditional meatless meal | Donations: Adults, $15; children 4-14, $5; children 3 and under, free | Seating is limited, admission by ticket only, tickets available at the rectory or after weekend masses | Proceeds to benefit the parish’s Social Concerns Ministry and the Quinn Center Food Pantry | 773-775-6659

IAPC to honor worthy trio

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:57:36 +0000

Caifano, Gamrath and Catezone

The Italian American Political Coalition will present Judge Celia G. Gamrath with its William Paca Award, Richard Caifano with its Lifetime Achievement Award and Richard Catezone with its Public Service Leadership Award at its annual Heritage Celebration on March 7 at Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. For tickets, call 708-369-2500.

The following profiles were provided by the organization.

Richard Caifano
Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Caifano has been a leader in the legal profession and Italian-American community for nearly six decades. An attorney in private practice since 1965, he focuses on civil and criminal litigation at the trial and appellate levels.

Rich was a trial instructor for The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and the National College of Criminal Defense Attorneys and Public Defenders in Houston, as well as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and the Mandatory Arbitration System of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Rich has served as the President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers as well as a member of its Executive and Scholarship committees. Active for decades in the Illinois State Bar Association, he has been a member of the ISBA Assembly as well as its Standing Committee on Mentoring and Senior Lawyers Section Counsel.

A co-founder of the National Italian American Bar Association, he served as a board member and Executive Vice President from 1983-1992 and as a board member and Historian from 1994-2006.

As Chairman of the Human Relations Committee of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans in the 1980s, Rich helped secure an apology from news analyst Sam Donaldson for unfairly attempting to associate vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro with organized crime.

A co-founder of the Italian American Political Coalition, Rich is also a longtime member of UNICO National, having served as a board member of the UNICO Foundation, and a past President, board member and Scholarship Committee Chairman for the organization’s West Suburban Chapter.

Hon. Celia G. Gamrath
William Paca Award
Judge Celia Louise Gamrath (née Guzaldo) is a candidate for the Illinois Appellate Court in the March 19 primary elections. She has served with distinction for 13 years in the Cook County Circuit Court.

Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Gamrath was a law clerk in the Appellate Court and later became a partner at Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck, where she earned a reputation as one of the best appellate lawyers in America. She earned a B.S. from Indiana University and J.D. from The John Marshall Law School (now UIC).

Judge Gamrath has held leadership positions with several bar associations and community organizations, including serving as past President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers. She is a Task Force Chair of the Illinois Judicial Conference, which sets the strategic agenda for the entire judicial branch. She also helped co-found Women Everywhere, a day of service to help those in disadvantaged communities.

The Paca Award is consistent with other accolades Judge Gamrath has received, including being honored by the JCCIA Women’s Division (Impresa Award), Chicago Bar Association (Alta May Hulett Award), The John Marshall Law School (Distinguished Service Award), Chicago Law Bulletin (Forty Under 40) and Illinois Bar Foundation (Distinguished Service to Law & Society Award), to name just a few.

Judge Gamrath is a faculty member at Illinois Judicial Education Conferences and a columnist for Chicago Lawyer magazine. Judge Celia Louise Gamrath is worthy of the Paca Award and will transition smoothly into the Appellate Court if she is elected on March 19.

Richard Catezone
Public Service Leadership Award
Richard Catezone has spent his professional career ensuring that individuals suffering from substance abuse addiction receive the best possible care as they travel their road to recovery.

Richard worked for the Illinois Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse from 1989-1996, starting as an administrative assistant and rising to the rank of Substance Abuse Specialist with Licensure and Monitoring. In the latter capacity, he was responsible for field inspections of 185 state-licensed drug and alcohol treatment facilities.

In 1996, the Department transitioned to the Illinois Department of Human Services and eventually became the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. Richard enjoyed a long tenure there as a Social Services Program Planner overseeing state-licensed drug and alcohol treatment facilities across the state.

From 1996 to 2000, Richard served as the 25th Ward Republican Committeeman for the city of Chicago, allowing him to further his public-service leadership efforts.

From 2009 to his retirement in February 2020, he managed a multimillion-dollar collaboration between IDHS/SUPR and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

In 2020, he received a kidney-liver transplant at Loyola University Medical Center. In 2022, he became an Ambassador for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a collaborative effort that addresses outreach, awareness, best practices and policy updates to promote public education of the organ-transplant community. He also serves as a volunteer for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and is Director of the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club’s substance abuse prevention program for local grammar-school students.

Holy Week to reign at Mt. Carmel, Pompeii

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:51:50 +0000

Good Friday at Mt. Carmel

Holy Week is central to the spiritual lives of Italians on both sides of the Atlantic. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and Shrine and the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii will play their parts from Palm Sunday (March 24) to Easter Sunday (March 31).

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL (Melrose Park) will celebrate Mass with the distribution of palms at 7:45 a.m. and noon in English and at 10:30 a.m. in Italian on Palm Sunday; Mass of the Last Supper in English and Italian and the washing of feet at 6 p.m. and adoration of the Altar of Repose from 8 p.m. to midnight on Holy Thursday; confessions from 9 a.m. to noon, a Rosary at 6 p.m. and Liturgy at 7 p.m. on Good Friday; an Easter Vigil at 8 p.m. on Holy Saturday; and Mass at 7:45 a.m. and noon in English and at 10:30 a.m. in Italian on Easter Sunday.

Palms will be presented by the Battenti Madonna del Arco of Associazione Regionale Campania at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Palm Sunday and a Visitation of the Seven Churches will take place on Holy Thursday. (Buses leave at 7:15 p.m.; bus tickets are $25 and seating is limited; reservations are required.)

Members of more than two dozen patron-saint societies will fill the church on Good Friday. Society banners will be presented to the Blessed Mother before the Good Friday Liturgy, which will be followed by a candlelight street procession featuring the Sicilian Band of Chicago, society banners, and statues of Maria SS. Addolorata, SS. Crocifisso and Jesù Morto. All societies are welcome to participate. (708-344-4140, olmcparish.org)

THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF POMPEII (Chicago) will celebrate Mass with the distribution of palms at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Palm Sunday; Mass of the Lord’s Prayer at 7 p.m. and personal prayer until midnight on Holy Thursday; Stations of the Cross at noon and the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 7 p.m. on Good Friday; Easter Vigil at 9 p.m. on Holy Saturday; and masses at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Check the website for livestreaming options. (312-421-3757, ourladyofpompeii.org)

Mt. Carmel to host Lenten Fish Fry

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:49:10 +0000

As long as you’re abstaining from meat during Lent, you might as well have some fun while you’re at it at the Lenten Fish Fry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Melrose Park. Hosted by the St. Anthony Society and slated for 5:30-8:30 p.m. on March 8 in the school gym, the event will feature fish and chips, coleslaw, corn on the cob, coffee, soda and sweets, as well as live entertainment, raffles and St. Anthony items for sale. Donations are $20 for adults and $12 for children under 12, with wine and beer available for an additional donation. (708-344-4140)

Salvi’s baseball prowess earns a NIASHF nod

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:47:32 +0000

Chicago attorney Patrick A. Salvi was honored as Sportsman of the Year at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony and gala in December.

A founder and managing equity partner at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, Salvi also is the CEO of Salvi Sports.

A lifetime baseball aficionado, Salvi bought the Gary SouthShore RailCats in 2008, owning and operating it until 2022. Under his leadership, the minor league baseball team won four division championships, had 30 players signed to MLB organizations and won the 2013 American Association Championship.

Salvi later expanded his baseball holdings with the purchase of the Schaumburg Boomers and the North Shore Navigators. Since he purchased the Boomers in 2012, the team has won the Frontier League Championship four times, setting attendance records for 10 consecutive seasons and earning Organization of the Year honors from the league four times.

NIASHF presents the Sportsman of the Year Award to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the hall of fame, the world of sports and/or the Italian-American community. Former honorees include presidents and chairmen of enterprises such as Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Sara Lee, the San Francisco 49ers, the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“(Mr. Salvi’s) combination of law accolades, sports business and love for his Italian heritage makes him the ideal candidate for this award,” NIASHF President Ron Onesti says.

North Shore couple underwrites park renaming

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:45:29 +0000

Highland Park’s Cloverdale Park was recently renamed Fontana-Pasquesi Park and dedicated to the many immigrants from the province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy who settled in the northern suburb in the early 1900s and contributed significantly to the town’s history. Modena is one of Highland Park’s sister cities. The name change and dedication are the result of a donation by North Shore residents Larry and Maria (Fontana) Pasquesi, who trace their roots to both Highland Park and Modena.

Mishawaka stands by Columbus

Fra Noi — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:43:33 +0000

More than 300 people gathered in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Oct. 8 to celebrate Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month. A 1 p.m. ceremony at the Columbus statue in the city’s Central Park featured presentations by Mayor Dave Wood, Elkhart County Judge Mike Christofeno and St. Joseph County Assessor Rosemary Mandrici as well as representatives of local clubs from St. Joseph and Elkhart counties.

Festivities continued with an Italian buffet luncheon at the DiLoreto Club, with food provided by local Italian restaurants. The event was sponsored by the DiLoreto Society, DeAmicis Italian Club, Italian American Heritage Society of Notre Dame/Michiana, Italian American Relief Association of Elkhart, Indiana, and Knights of Columbus Council 1878. Pat Vivirito, associate professor of Italian at the University of Notre Dame, gave a brief talk on the local Italian American History Project.

Working with The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana, the local Italian clubs put up a small display in the museum highlighting the history of Italian Americans in the area titled “From Humble Beginnings to Pillars of the Community.” The ongoing research project will culminate in a larger display this summer.

“We’re excited by the support we’re receiving from the community for our statue, our event and our history project,” event Chairman Joseph Agostino says.

SADIA to host second annual Carnevale

Fra Noi — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:57:53 +0000

The Sons and Daughters of Italy in America will host its second annual Carnevale di Venezia from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at Empress Banquets in Addison. Dubbed “La Commedia dell’Arte,” this year’s celebration will feature antipasto and dessert buffets; a family-style spaghettata; live entertainment, including acrobats and costumed performers; dancing; and more. Tickets are $75 and sponsorships are available. Reservations are required by Jan. 27. (president.sadia@gmail.com)

Will County paesani form new group

Fra Noi — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:57:48 +0000

WCIAA leaders at the parade

It may come as a surprise to Italian Americans living in the northern half of the Chicago area, but the far southwest suburbs boast substantial communities of paesani as well.

“Mokena’s population is the highest and Homer Glen has a large one as well,” reports longtime local elected official Steve Balich. “Joliet and Crest Hill have good-sized populations, too, and so does Lockport and a couple of the neighboring suburbs.”

Balich and others formed the Will County Italian American Association last summer to rally their compatriots around each other and their culture.

“We started the group to support our heritage and bring people together to hang out and share our traditions,” he explains. “We wanted to make those a part of our everyday lives.”

Steve Balich

Dues are $50 a year, with membership open to Italian-Americans and non-Italian Americans alike. “We require a minimum of 51 percent of our members to be of Italian descent and most of us are, but we welcome non-Italian Americans who enjoy or culture.”

The association has been meeting for family-style dinners at local Italian restaurants on the last Thursday of every other month, with an eye toward upping the frequency.

Plans are in the works for a procession with a statue of St. Joseph through the streets of Homer Glen in March, culminating in a St. Joseph Table at Our Mother of Good Council with a local Polish group.

WCIAA leaders marched in the 2023 Columbus Day Parade, with plans to take out a float next year.

“We have 114 members after six months so that’s pretty good,” Balich says. “It’s not an effort when you’re having fun, meeting new people and celebrating your heritage.”

Balich is Italian and French on his mom’s side and Croatian and Sicilian on his dad’s. “My mom was adopted and my dad’s father died when he was very young. He was raised by the Sicilian side, so that’s all we ever knew growing up in terms of culture.”

Active politically, Balich has been a member of the Will County Board for 12 years. Before that, he served as a Homer Township trustee for eight years and clerk for four. He has chaired the Homer Township Republican Organization for six years and has served as the township’s supervisor for two years.

“I’m a firm believer in giving back to my community,” he says. “Forming the Will County Italian American Association is an extension of that.

To find out how you can get involved, call 815-557-7196.

Service animal memorial has Italian connection

Ron Polaniecki — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:51:59 +0000

Eight dogs and three horses that gave their lives while serving alongside Chicago police officers were recently honored in a new memorial.

Local sculptor Jessica LoPresti designed and sculpted the piece along with fellow artist Oscar Leon. The work was created at the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany in Highwood, Illinois.

“Our intention was to create a meaningful and moving tribute dedicated to the K9 and equine units of the Chicago Police Department that highlights the bond between the animals and their human partners, and to honor their service and sacrifice,” says LoPresti, a Chicago-area resident and DePaul University graduate.

The memorial is located just east of Soldier Field, near the Gold Star Families Memorial and Park in the museum campus area east of Soldier Field. The formal unveiling ceremony took place on Oct. 11.

LoPresti is a co-sculptor of the statue of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, unveiled in October 2022, in the courtyard of Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral.