Tag Archives: San Rocco di Potenza Society

Among the many champions of the Italian community in Chicago is the Rev. Stan Czarnecki, a Polish-born Jesuit priest who fell in love with Italy after living in Palermo and Rome as a young adult. Czarnecki, who speaks Italian fluently, celebrates Mass in Italian on a regular basis at St. William Church and St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago, and occasionally at Casa Italia in suburban Stone Park. “Whenever there is a request, I go,” he says. He also does bilingual masses, alternating readings in English and Italian, and giving parts of homilies in both languages. Czarnecki has been working …

The San Rocco di Potenza Society hosted its annual pasta dinner and St Joseph Sweet Table at St. William Church on March 4. The event was attended by 250 guests and featured a lavish spread of zeppoli, cannoli, cookies, fruit and other treats. Society President Vince Cataldo, event chairmen Vito Rago and Phil Parker, and Women’s Auxiliary President Josephine Bax presented donations to St. William’s Pastor Fr. Richard Gro in support of the parish, its school and St. Vincent DePaul Society. “Society members came together as always to benefit our host parish and our feast tradition,” Cataldo says. “We’re truly …