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Casa Italia’s popular film series will return in March and April, with screenings taking place at the Casa’s recently renovated Community Center. March 6 — The biopic “Chiara” explores the life of St. Clare, who rebelled against her aristocratic family to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. March 13 — Re-creating life in the Italian Alps after World War II, “Vermigilio” follows the story of a mysterious deserter from Sicily who walks into a small town and upends a family’s quiet world. March 27 — In “La chimera,” a band of burglars unearths ancient treasures, selling them …

The Mount Carmel Parish and Shrine in Melrose Park will host a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana, on March 21. Pilgrims will traverse a 1-1/2-mile multimedia prayer trail, landscaped to look like the Holy Land, that features life-size bronze statues of Christ and many biblical figures. The first part of the tour begins with the Last Supper, proceeds to the Garden of Gethsemane, travels the path to Calvary and concludes with the Ascension. Other stops on the tour take in Moses receiving the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai, a chapel and grotto dedicated to …

Società Giovanile di M.S. Santa Caterina Villarmosa will celebrate its 100th anniversary on March 28 at Empress Banquets in Addison. Founded on Feb. 15, 1926, by immigrants from Santa Caterina Villarmosa, Sicily, the society was established to provide support during illness, hardship and loss while preserving the cultural traditions and community bonds of their hometown. Incorporated on March 8 of the same year, the organization has remained active for a full century. “For 100 years, our Society has been a family,” says society President Dino DiMartino. “We honor the courage of our founders and the generations who kept this community …

Joe Donnelly, a former U.S. senator from Indiana and past U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, was the guest of honor at the annual Columbus Day/Italian Heritage Celebration held in Mishawaka, Indiana, in October. Joking that he was “Joe Donnelli” for the day, Donnelly spoke about the importance of Christopher Columbus and the numerous contributions of Italian Americans both nationally and locally. He also talked about the wonderful time he had in Rome as ambassador and of his meetings with Pope Francis. While he was ambassador, he was able to tour many parts of Italy and welcome countless visitors from …

Each March, dozens of Italian families, organizations, parishes and businesses across the Chicago area open 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. (Nota Bene: The sponsoring organizations are not responsible for any errors in this listing. Call the phone numbers provided to confirm before attending.) MARCH 1 SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ITALY IN AMERICA | Maria SS. Lauretana Lodge (Chicago) | 11:30 a.m., doors open; blessing at noon followed …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation are gearing up for their third annual Augustus Caesar Awards. Slated for Feb. 28 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook, the event will honor 12 young professionals who are excelling in their fields and exhibit potential for future success. The honorees will be Frank Battaglia (dining), Anthony Greco (law enforcement), Bianca Ferreri Maldonado (clinical mental health therapist), Brady Niemiec (firefighter and paramedic), Anthony Pasquini (attorney), Jason Quaglia (commercial risk management insurance), Ramon Ruiz (electrical supply and distribution), Nick Schullo (sales and consulting), Matteo Serritella (private detective), Katelyn Smith (elementary education), Mario Tenuta (financial advisor) and …

Casa Italia will host a full-day Italian language immersion experience on Saturday, February 21, led by immersion veterans Carla Simonini, PhD, and Anna Clara Ionta. Together, the instructors bring more than 50 years of combined university-level teaching experience in Italian language and culture. Designed for the general public at the intermediate to advanced level (not for beginners), the six-hour immersion day emphasizes sustained language use through guided conversation, small-group work, and a structured Italian film viewing with focused vocabulary and grammar review. Instruction will be conducted entirely in Italian in a supportive, engaging environment. Enrollment is limited. The participation fee …

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans is encouraging Italian American Women business owners to share their stories of success at this year’s celebration of Festa della Donna. The event will take place on March 10 at the Des Plaines Theatre. “We are looking for women who have a passion to share their stories to help other women on their road to success and to empower our younger women to carry our cultural torch into the future,” says division President Rose Mary Ranallo. For details, send an email with the subject “Italian American Women Business Owners” …

In Section 18 at the Queen of Heaven cemetery there is a statue of another iteration of the Virgin Mary. It stands with the arms extended downward with the palms up toward the flat gravestones that are before and behind. The inscription reads, “Our Lady of the Angels Pray for Us.” The 42 gravestones have various birthdates in 1947, ’48 and ’49 but they all have one ending date: December 1, 1958. On one of the gravestones viewed on a crisp fall day, there were pictures of the lost daughter, and bright miniature Christmas trees, lovingly arranged 67 years later. …

The mission of the Sister Cities movement reflects the belief in the power of personal connections. Since its inception in 1956, the goal of Sister Cities International has been “peace through citizen diplomacy.” As members of Sister Cities International and five time “Best Overall Program” winner, the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation has embraced this mission. Through cultural, educational and business exchanges and programs to provide humanitarian relief, the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation has connected people in our community with people in our sister cities: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Modena, Italy; and Yerucham, Israel. The results have transformed lives and …