Evviva la festa!

Each year, more than two dozen Italian patron saint celebrations grace the Chicago area. Kept alive by paesani from villages and cities across Italy, these events preserve some of the most cherished of our traditions. Festivities range from simple religious services to solemn masses and processions to family festivals that last several days. But they all have one thing in common: devotion to the spiritual protectors of la bell’Italia. At press time, information was available on the following events.

JUNE 13-14
THE FEAST OF SS. CROCIFISSO & SAN GIOVANNI BOSCO DI CIMINNA at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines is sponsored by Società SS. Crocifisso & San Giovanni Bosco di Ciminna (Chicago). Festivities culminate on June 14 with a 12:30 p.m. Mass in Italian and English, followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago as well as the traditional parade of horses and a family festival with food, live entertainment and evening fireworks. A vespers service at 7 p.m. on June 13 will be followed by entertainment. (Frank Faraci, 847-577-8230)

JUNE 14
THE FEAST OF SANT’ANTONIO at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and Shrine in Melrose Park is sponsored by the parish’s St. Anthony Society. It features a 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by the traditional blessing and distribution of the bread and veneration of the relic, a procession accompanied by Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana and a continental breakfast in the gym. The actual feast day will be celebrated with a 5:30 p.m. Mass on June 13, followed by an outdoor reception. The second and third days of the Triduum will be celebrated with a 6:30 p.m. Mass on June 11 and a 6:30 p.m. Mass on June 12. (708-344-4140)
THE FEAST OF SAN PIO at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago is sponsored by the Italian Catholic Federation Branch #392. It features a 3 p.m. Mass in Italian and procession around the church followed by dinner buffet. (Teresa Helfand, 773-763-0507)

JULY 19
THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Feast Committee. Festivities culminate on July 19 with a 7:30 a.m. Mass in English and a 9 a.m. Mass in Italian, a 10:30 a.m. procession to a noon field Mass, and a second procession featuring traditional festa music and ending with the benediction. A 7:30 p.m. Novena will run from July 9-18. Related events include the presentation of the banners at 7 p.m. on July 14, the presentation of the roses at 6 p.m. on July 15, the memorial service for deceased members of the Feast Committee and a procession through the streets with Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana at 7 p.m. on July 16. (708-344-4140)

JULY 26
THE FEAST OF BEATO GIOVANNI LICCIO at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by Società Beato Giovanni Liccio di Caccamo. Festivities include a 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by a procession and family festival featuring food, live entertainment and activities for children. An invocation and Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on July 20-25 at the Cappella Beato Giovanni Liccio in Chicago. (Cristian Alaimo, 312-363-8617)

AUGUST 2
THE FEAST OF SAN ROCCO DI VALENZANO at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by the Associazione San Rocco di Valenzano. It features a noon Mass, followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago. (Frank De Frenza, 630-292-7300)

AUGUST 5-9
THE FEAST OF SAN DONATO at St. Donatus Church in Blue Island is sponsored by the parish. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with a 10 a.m. Mass, followed by a procession featuring Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana. A street festival with food and live entertainment will run from Aug. 5-9. (708-385-2890)

AUGUST 7-9
FESTA ITALIANA IN HONOR OF MARIA SS. DELL’ASSUNTA in Crest Hill is sponsored by the American Italian Cultural Society. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with an 11 a.m. Mass, followed by a procession. A family festival with food and live entertainment will run from Aug. 7-9. (815-725-7450)
THE FEAST OF SAN LORENZO AND SAN ROCCO is sponsored by the Amaseno Lodge #3 of Chicago Heights. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with an 11 a.m. Mass at the San Rocco Oratory in Chicago Heights, preceded and followed by processions from and to the lodge with the statues of San Lorenzo and San Rocco. A street festival with food and live entertainment will take place after the religious celebration and on the previous two days. (Marco Bravo, 708-557-0786)

AUGUST 9
FESTA DELLA FAMIGLIA IN HONOR OF SAN FRANCESCO DI PAOLA at Casa Italia in Stone Park is sponsored by Società San Francesco di Paola. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with a procession featuring the Sicilian Band of Chicago at 10 a.m. and a Mass at noon, followed by a family festival with food, live entertainment and a candlelight procession. A Triduum will be celebrated in the days before the main event. Details will be published in the August issue. (Joe Russo, 708-449-5300)

AUGUST 16
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. DELL’UDIENZA will run in conjunction with the Feast of San Rocco di Potenza. It is sponsored by the St. Mary of Sambuca Society. (Donna Campise-Tagli, 708-751-2839)
THE FEAST OF SAN ROCCO DI POTENZA at St. William Church in Chicago is sponsored by Congregazione di San Rocco di Potenza. It features a noon Mass, followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago, the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a family festival with food and live entertainment from noon until 8 p.m. A Novena runs from Aug. 7-15 at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m. all other days. An anointing Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10. (Sal Aloisio, 773-551-2604)
THE FEAST OF SAN ROCCO DI SIMBARIO at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Chicago is sponsored by the Society of San Rocco di Simbario. It features a 10:30 a.m. Holy Mass, followed by a procession with Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of the holy relic of San Rocco, and a complimentary buffet dinner afterward for all those who participate in the procession. A Novena and anointing of the sick will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15, the evening before the procession. (Frank Bertucci, 708-715-6281)

AUGUST 23
THE FEAST OF MADONNA DELLE GRAZIE at St. Alexander Church in Villa Park is sponsored by Società Giovanile M.S. di Santa Caterina Villarmosa. It features a 2:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a procession featuring the Sicilian Band of Chicago. The society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. (Mario Saporito, 847-962-1251)

AUGUST 30
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. DEL POZZO at Casa Scalabrini Village in Northlake is sponsored by Società Maria SS. del Pozzo. It features a noon Mass and procession, followed by a dinner at The Empress Banquets in Addison. A 7 p.m. Novena will run from Aug. 21-29 at the society’s clubhouse in Wood Dale. (Anna Rubino, 708-878-9562)

SEPTEMBER 4-6
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. LAURETANA is sponsored by Congregazione di Maria SS. Lauretana di Altavilla Milicia. The celebration will take place in Niles on Church Street between Greenwood and Cumberland avenues, on the south side of Golf Mill Shopping Center. Festivities culminate on Sept. 6 with a procession at 9 a.m. and a Mass at 10 a.m., followed by processions with the Sicilian Band of Chicago leading up to the traditional Flight of the Angels at 5 and 8 p.m. A street festival with food, live entertainment and carnival will run from Sept. 4-6, with a carnival only on Sept. 7. A Novena will run from Aug. 27-Sept. 3 at the society’s chapel in Chicago, with the final day on Sept. 4 at the feast. (Joe Camarda, 773-736-3766)

SEPTEMBER 13
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. INCORONATA at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Chicago is sponsored by Club Maria SS. Incoronata e San Cristoforo di Ricigliano. It features an 11 a.m. Mass, a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago and a reception afterward. (Jim Distasio, 708-222-1200)
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. ADDOLORATA at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by Società Maria SS. Addolorata, Mola di Bari. It features a noon Mass in English and Italian. A Novena will take place at the society’s clubhouse in Chicago in the days leading up to the feast. (773-625-4016)

SEPTEMBER 27
THE FEAST OF SAN PIO at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by I Fedeli di Padre Pio. Festivities begin with a blessing of the statue outside the church at 9:30 a.m. and a Mass inside the church at 10:30 a.m., followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago and family festival. (Pete Camaci, 630-217-7415)

OCTOBER 3
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. DELLA CROCE is sponsored by Maria SS. Della Croce di Triggiano, Bari, Italy. It features a 1:30 p.m. Mass and procession at St. Philip Church in Addison followed by a 5:30 p.m. dinner at The Empress Banquets in Addison. A 7 p.m. Novena will run from Sept. 18-26 at Casa Scalabrini in Northlake. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the feast. (Rocco Scavo, 630-596-7414)

OCTOBER 4
THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by the parish. Check the October calendar for details. (708-344-4140)

OCTOBER 18
THE FEAST OF MADONNA DI BUTERRITO at The Empress Banquets in Addison is sponsored by CI-AMA. It features a 1 p.m. Mass and procession, followed by a dinner dance. A Novena will run from Oct. 13-16 at the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park. (Nancy Cometa, 708-278-8004)

NOVEMBER 8
THE FEAST OF SAN TRIFONE is sponsored by Società San Trifone di Chicago. It features a 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, followed by a luncheon at a location to be determined. (Pat Specchio, 708-562-3113)

NOVEMBER 13
THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCES CABRINI at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by the parish. It features a 7:30 p.m. Mass. (708-344-4140)

DECEMBER 12-13
THE FEAST OF ST. LUCY at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Rockford is sponsored by the Greater Rockford Italian American Association. It features the traditional anointing of the eyes, as well as the blessing and distribution of the cuccia at the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 12 and at the 13 and 10:30 a.m. masses on Dec. 7. (815-965-2761)

DECEMBER 13
THE FEAST OF SANTA LUCIA at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by the parish. Check the December calendar for details. (708-344-4140)