Fra Noi

Fra Noi produces a magazine and website that serve the Chicago-area Italian-American community. Our magazine offers our readers a monthly feast of news and views, culture and entertainment that keeps our diverse and widely scattered readers in touch with each other and their heritage. Our website offers a dizzying array of information drawn from every corner of the local community.

CIAO stages bountiful St. Joseph Table

The Calabresi in America Organization is no stranger to high-profile, large-scale events, co-hosting a massive summer festival with Società San Francesco di Paola in August, a wildly popular trip to Calabria in September and a well-attended dinner dance in October. Smaller in scope, their St. Joseph Table still packs some fundraising wallop. More than 200 members and guests took part in this year’s event, which generated $5,000 in donations to Casa Italia. The check was presented by CIAO President Chris DeSanto (on the right in the photo) to Casa Chairman Ron Onesti at the Casa’s April board meeting.  

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Justinians go to bat for kids in need

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 21st annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 16 at Lux Bar in Chicago. Justinian President Bruno Marasso and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in CEF grants at the event to the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, Direct Effect Charities and St. Anthony Hospital. Additional donations were made from the floor by Justinian members and other guests in attendance. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to give back to our community, and we thank all members who have contributed,” Marasso said. “Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, …

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San Rocco Society offers sweet support

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 …

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Pompeii pavers create a lasting legacy

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii is inviting current and former parishioners to purchase a paver for placement in the Shrine’s Garden of Remembrance. “If you’ve ever had a special moment in this sacred place, if you’d like to honor a loved one or commemorate a special date, please consider being a part of our Garden of Remembrance,” Shrine Rector the Rev. Richard Fragomeni says. The garden is located south of the Holy Family statue, and 100 bricks are already installed. With every 100 bricks sold, another installation will take place. A 4-by-8-inch brick costs $250 and is customizable …

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Evviva la Festa! — A listing of 2023 patron saint festivals

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 4 THE FEAST OF SAN PIO at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago is sponsored by the Italian Catholic Federation Branch …

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Venerable leaders convene at film screening

Casa Italia Library curator Dominic Candeloro, Maria SS. Lauretana Society President Joe Camarda and Italian Radio Theater founder Gino Nuccio had the chance to catch up recently. With nearly two centuries of combined service to the community, they had a lot to talk about. Their spirited discussion took place at the Lauretana lodge after a screening of Michael Cavalieri’s film “La porta dell’inferno,” about sulfur miners in Sicily. The filmmaker’s appearance at the screening was made possible by Professor Carla Simonini, director of the Rubino Italian American Program at Loyola University.  

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Documentary explores iconic hospital, painting

Film Festival USA will screen “The Innocents of Florence” at 7 p.m. on May 22 at Harris Hall 107, Northwestern University, 1881 Sheridan Road, Evanston. Directed by David Battistella, the documentary explores the history of the Ospedale degli Innocenti, founded in 1446 as a hospital for young mothers and babies, and the restoration of its logo, the painting “The Madonna of the Innocents.” The concert is free and open to the public. For more, click here.  

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ICC unveils updated Italians in Chicago exhibit

The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park unveiled a restored and enhanced Italians in Chicago exhibit at an open house from 6-9 p.m. on May 12. Archivists Terry Quilico and Barbara Stasell began work on the project two years ago under the direction of the exhibit’s creator, ICC Library Curator Dominic Candeloro. “The exhibit was renovated in the 1990s, but due to the deterioration of some of the displays, we decided that further renovations were needed,” Candeloro says. “As work progressed, we realized that there were significant aspects of the history of Italians in Chicago that were …

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JCCIA to honor Ahern, Allegrini

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans will host a pair of local luminaries at their annual media luncheon on May 26 at Galleria Marchetti. Mary Ann Ahern will receive the Dante Award, given each year to a member of the Fourth Estate who has proven to be no timid friend to truth, and Robert Allegrini will receive the Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award, given to bridge builders inside and outside of the Italian-American community. Ahern is an Emmy award-winning political reporter for NBC 5 Chicago, and Allegrini is president of the National Italian American Foundation. (708-450-9050)  

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Cultural Center offers Italian for Travelers

If you’ve finally decided to visit Italy but you’re worried about being able to communicate with the locals, the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia has the class for you. This six-week course will introduce you to important travel phrases and expressions used by native speakers in real life situations (e.g., at the airport, restaurants, hotels, banks, etc.) in a conversational format. Conducted via Zoom, the class will run from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays from May 24 to June 28. The fee is $295 until May 15 and $345 thereafter. To register, click here.    

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