Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
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 by a buffet lunch | Adults, $50; children under 12, $25 | Reservations required | Lyn, 847-302-9460; Janis, 312-504-7112; sadia-chicago.org
MARCH 8
MAZZINI VERDI LADIES CLUB (Franklin Park) | 1 p.m. Mass, 3 p.m. dinner | Adults, $55; children 6-12, $15; children under 6 free | Reservations required | Maria Banducci, 630-443-8722; Maria Casali, 773-589-0388
MARCH 13
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 14
FRANCIS BORGIA CHURCH (Chicago) | Sponsored by the Italian Catholic Federation Branch #392 | 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 | Teresa Helfand, 773-763-0507
JULIE BILLIART CHURCH (Tinley Park) | Sponsored by the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Leone D’Oro Lodge #2700 | Mass at 4:30 p.m., pasta dinner at 5:15 p.m. | Donations of nonperishable food items for the food pantry appreciated | 708-532-8168
VILLA CESARE BANQUETS & EVENTS (Schererville) | St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s Day Party | 6:30 p.m. to midnight | Dinner, open bar and entertainment | Adults, $55 | Reservations required | 219-322-3011, events@villacesare.com
MARCH 14-15
ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH (Rockford) | March 14, blessing of altar after 4:30 p.m. Mass; March 15, altar on display and serving of pasta con le sarde from noon to 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | 815-965-2761
MARCH 15
SACRED HEART CHURCH (Marengo) | Buffet meal and sweet table, noon to 3 p.m. | Donations appreciated | Proceeds to benefit the St. Vincent DePaul Society of Sacred Heart | 815-568-7878
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
JOHN CANTIUS CHURCH (Chicago) | Traditional meatless meal after the 12:30 p.m. Mass | Donations appreciated | Proceeds to benefit the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago at Our Lady of the Angels | St. John Cantius | 312-243-7373
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
PHILIP THE APOSTLE (Addison) | Buffet meal, 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
MARCH 16
JOINT CIVIC COMMITTEE OF ITALIAN AMERICANS | Traditional meatless meal and general meeting | 6:30 dinner | Tickets: $35 | Reservations required | 708-450-9050
MARCH 18
COLUMBIAN CLUB OF CHICAGO | The Empress Banquets (Addison) | Italian and seafood buffet, open bar and live entertainment | Cocktails, 6 p.m.; dinner, 7 p.m. | $125 per person | Reservations required | Michael Rosciano, 708-715-6522; John Todesco, 847-436-2634; events@columbianclub.org
MARCH 19
CAFE SAN FRANCESCO (Chicago) | Buffet dinner, 4 to 10 p.m. | Requested minimum donation: $15 | Proceeds to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | 773-283-1117
JUSTINIAN SOCIETY OF LAWYERS, DUPAGE COUNTY | Angeli’s (Naperville) | Cocktails, 5:30 p.m.; sit-down dinner, 6:30 p.m. | $75 with cash bar with optional $25 donation to the scholarship fund | Reservations required by March 12 | dupagejustinians@gmail.com
MARCH 21
MARY MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE PARISH (Westchester) | Meatless Buffet meal | 5 to 8 p.m. in the Divine Providence School Gym | Adults, $25; children, $15 | Tickets available at the door | Sponsored by Divine Providence FSA | 708-562-2258
QUEEN OF PEACE PARISH (Chicago) | First seating, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; second seating, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Traditional meatless meal | 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
MARCH 22
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH (Elmhurst) | 11:30 a.m. Mass followed by buffet meal | Donations appreciated | Proceeds to benefit Our Lady of the Angels Mission in Chicago | 630-530-8515
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL PARISH (Melrose Park) | Sponsored by La Società Fedeli di S. Pio-Chicago | 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 | $15 per person | Pete Camaci, 630-217-7415; Elio Bartolotta, 630-935-1688
OUR LADY OF POMPEII SHRINE (Chicago) | Masses at 11 a.m., buffet lunch at Pompei Restaurant from 12:30 to 3 p.m. | Entertainment by Joe Martino | $40 per person | Prepayment and reservations required | 312-421-3757
MARCH 28
SOCIETY BURGIO FOR WOMEN | Edison Park Lutheran Church (Chicago) | Traditional dishes and desserts | 2 pm to 5 p.m., Holy Family served first and guests to follow | Adults, $20; children 4-12, $5 | Reservations required by March 17 | Contact Maria, 847-902-1967; societyburgioforwomen@gmail.com
