Tag Archives: Robert Lombardo

COLUMBUS UPDATE A Freedom of Information Act request submitted to the Chicago Park District by attorneys for the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans yielded an abundance of documents about the statue that once served as the centerpiece for Columbus Plaza in Arrigo Park. Among them was a signed agreement that stated, “The Park District will, in perpetuity, obtain the written approval of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans before making any substantial change to Columbus Plaza or the statue.” The statue was ordered removed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the middle of the night on July 24, …

The first Italian American to be ordained a bishop in Chicago, Fr. Bob Lombardo has served the poorest of the poor and resurrected a church close to the heart of our community. In the hush of Holy Name Cathedral, with hundreds of Catholics in attendance, the former Fr. Bob Lombardo knelt before Cardinal Blase Cupich in a Nov. 13 ceremony to receive an anointing with oil, a ring, a miter and a staff. That day, amid many joyous congratulations, Lombardo became the first Italian American, and the first Franciscan, to be ordained a bishop in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bishop …

Carla Simonini, the Paul and Ann Rubino endowed associate professor of the Italian American Studies Program at Loyola University Chicago, has announced that three classes will be offered in the fall semester. Simonini will lead a comparative literature class titled “Italian and Italian-American Women Writers,” Pietro Lorenzini will offer a history class titled “Italian Americans in Popular Culture,” and Robert Lombardo will teach an online criminal justice course titled “Organized Crime.” (simonini@LUC.edu.)