Local News

I-A Literati 2026, Casa Italia’s 22nd annual celebration of local Italian-American authors, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 23 in the Florentine Room of the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia. The event will begin with coffee and sweets, and a meet-and-greet with the writers, followed by the keynote address and presentations. Additional activities include book sales and signings. This year’s authors will be Peter Belmonte, Lou Bruno, Ryan Byrnes, Frank Di Piero, Leah Eskin, Richard Leto, Mike Rosanova and Carla Simonini. Freewill donations are encouraged and reservations are required. To register, click here.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Melrose Park will celebrate the Feast of St. Rita, Patroness of the Impossible, on May 22 and 30. A bus will depart from the parish for the Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia in Chicago at 4:30 p.m. on May 22. The pilgrimage will include a Mass, tour of the relics and reception. The cost is $22. A 9 a.m. Mass on May 30 at the parish will be followed by a breakfast in the gym. The cost of the breakfast is $10. Reservations are required for the pilgrimage and breakfast. (312-860-2530)  

The Italian American Executives of Transportation has gotten a running start on its 54th annual Awards Dinner and Celebration, naming its honorees as the calendar flipped from 2025 to 2026. Accepting this year’s Man of the Year accolade will be John Donato, who has held the position of chief of staff for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority since 2023. For a decade before that, Donato served as chief of procurement, overseeing contracts for the multibillion-dollar Move Illinois capital program. Efficient tollway operations and vendor outreach have been hallmarks of Donato’s career. The IAET’s 2026 Humanitarian of the Year will …

Casa Italia has launched Sabato Culturale, a series of Saturday morning presentations on Italian and Italian-American history, culture and thought. The series is the brainchild of Dominic Candeloro, curator of the library in the Italian Cultural Center at the Casa. The sessions in April and May are as follows: April 11 — Casa Italia board member Frank Di Piero will present “Saving Our Stories: From Cenetta to Podcasts to Children’s Books.” The host of the podcast “Italian American Life with Frankie D,” Di Piero has written five children’s books promoting Italian culture. April 18 — “Remembering Padre Feccia” will celebrate …

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 …

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 hosted their third annual Augustus Caesar Awards on 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 were 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 Chris Trzeciak (financial services …

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 …