Community

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish will celebrate the 132nd anniversary of its devotion to the Blessed Mother on July 13. Festivities will begin with a 7:30 a.m. Mass in English and a 9 a.m. solemn Mass in Italian, followed by a procession with the statue of the Blessed Mother to a noon field Mass. A procession through the streets of the parish afterward will culminate in a 4 p.m. benediction, followed by a 5 p.m. Mass in Spanish. The Sicilian Band of Chicago and Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana will perform during both processions, and food and beverages will be …

Associazione Regionale Siciliana in America will host a Sicilian Summer Block Party featuring the tastes and sounds of Sicily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 29 at the corner of Addison and Nordica in Chicago. Entertainment will be provided by the Sicilian vocal duo Calandra and Calandra and DJ Alex. Sicilian delicacies will include pane e panelle, sfincione, arancini, cannoli and more. For details, call Sal Camarda at 708-369-8605 or Tony Sapienza at 630-935-6998.

Day 1 Survivors will host its third annual fundraising tournament for cancer research from 1-5 p.m. on July 19 at Northwestern Martin Lakefront Stadium. The event will feature open bar, gourmet food trucks, a live raffle and open bocce along with the bocce tournament. Tickets are $130 per person and $225 per couple. Sponsorships are also available. The organization was founded by former Columbus Day Queen Dina Bair Maher, a medical reporter and anchor at WGN-TV, and her husband, John Maher. For details, click here.    

Volleyball World hosting the men’s 2025 Volleyball Nations League in the Chicago area from June 25-29 at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates. Volleyball is ranked as the third most-watched sport worldwide, with more than 800 million fans around the globe each year. The tournament will bring elite players from the United States, Poland, Brazil, Italy, Canada and China to compete in as part of the five-day, 12-match pool. For more, click here.

The Society Burgio for Women’s fundraising picnic will benefit a cause that’s near and dear to its members. Revenue generated by the event will be donated to D’fense Holiday Drive, an annual initiative launched by Dylan Provenzano to benefit Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago. A two-time cancer survivor, Provenzano is the grandson of a society member and cousin of society President Annmarie Parisi. The July 19 event will feature food and beverages, games, music and raffles. The location is to be determined. (SocietyBurgioforWomen@gmail.com)

The National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini will honor the life and legacy of America’s first saint with a birthday celebration on July 13. The event will feature a 10 a.m. Mass followed by refreshments and a “celebration of faith, community and cultures,” according to Executive Director Laurie Halaska. “The shrine has a spiritual mission reflecting the ideals of Mother Cabrini by welcoming pilgrims from around the globe and in offering a place of prayer, worship, devotion, evangelization and reconciliation,” she says. For more, click here.

On May 13, more than 300 elected officials, political lobbyists and community leaders converged on the Bank of Springfield Convention Center for the third annual Italian Caucus Reception in the state’s capital. What began as a quiet dinner prepared by Elmwood Park Mayor Angelo “Skip” Saviano and Bloomingdale Mayor Franco Coladipietro has blossomed into what legislators refer to as the “best party in Springfield.” The event is chaired by State Rep. Anthony Deluca and Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti. “When I heard about the event a few years ago, I thought it would be a great …

Caption Locallo and Mirabelli Catherine R. (Caifano) Locallo ascended to the presidency of the Justinian Society of Lawyers at the society’s installation and awards dinner on May 15 at RPM Events Chicago. Enrico J. Mirabelli was presented with the society’s Award of Excellence at the event. Joining Locallo as officers are First Vice President Michael R. Bertucci, Second Vice President Judge Jill Cerone-Marisie, Third Vice President Michael R. Grieco, Treasurer Sarah M. LeRose and Secretary Dominic C. LoVerde. The following profiles were provided by the Justinians. Enrico J. Mirabelli Award of Excellence Enrico J. Mirabelli, an Equity Partner at Beermann …

Patronato ACLI will offer a presentation about Italian citizenship laws at 6 p.m. on May 23 at Casa Italia in Stone Park. The presentation will be made by Stefano Marruso, national director of Patronato ACLI USA. “A boom in interest obtaining Italian citizenships has led to a ‘citizenship market’ that exploits the general confusion surrounding the topic,” Marusso says. “This meeting aims to clarify the new law about Italian citizenship and provide fundamental information about who’s eligible and how to apply.” Patronato ACLI is a non-profit company that provide social services regarding Italian pension, immigration and fiscal matters. For details …

  Casa Italia in Stone Park will host a summer camp from June 16-20 and June 23-27. Campers ages 5-12 will learn about the language and culture of Italy through games, songs, sports, skits, cooking, and formal and informal lessons. Directed by Cav. Lyn Scolaro, a local language instructor with nearly 40 years of experience on the high school level, the camp will be staffed by certified teachers recruited from local high school language programs, as well as teacher’s assistants drawn from upper-level Italian classes. The camp will run Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. A registration fee of …