Nativity Set from the Joseph Poli Company, 1950s - Gift of Mark Marchetti
This large-model Nativity set is most commonly found in churches, not homes. The donor’s father, Joseph Marchetti, worked as an artist for the Joseph Poli Company. Established in 1890 in Pittsburgh's Lower Hill District, the company specialized in decor for churches such as statuary, altars, railings, fonts, and sacramental robes. This Nativity set...
New Jersey priest’s devotion to saint helps bring her life to the big screen
For the last decade, Msgr. Paul Bochicchio of St. Francis Church in Hoboken has been advising as a spiritual consultant on the upcoming film “Cabrini,” produced by Angel Studios about the life and ministry of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, set to debut in theaters in March 2024. The highly anticipated movie, from the studio that produced “The Chosen”...
Visit to Washington by the delegation of the Friendship Section with the USA of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
The visit to Washington DC of the Italy-United States Bilateral Friendship Section of the Italian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union ended on Thursday. The delegation, assisted by the Ambassador of Italy, Mariangela Zappia, was composed of the President of the Italian UIP Group Sen. Pier Ferdinando Casini, the President of the Bilateral Friends...
Conversation at Villa Firenze with judge and Yale professor Guido Calabresi, Norman Silber and Antonio Monda
The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, hosted a conversation at Villa Firenze between Yale judge and professor emeritus Guido Calabresi, Prof. Norman Silber, author of the book “Outside In: The Oral History of Guido Calabresi,” and Professor Antonio Monda. Guests included Attorney General Merrick Garland, Supreme Court Jus...
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel: Rescued and Preserved
When I decided to try (once again) to learn Italian, a major goal of mine was to attend, and understand, Mass in the language of my heritage. I have attended the Italian Mass at St. Lucy’s Church several times over the years. I understand very little of it, however, it reaches me in a special way. From the beginning of the Great Migration, the Chur...
Giants QB Tommy DeVito 'Very Humble' At Meadowlands Food Giveaway
On Tuesday morning, New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito stopped by the Meadowlands YMCA to give away Thanksgiving food bags to local families in need. DeVito, a rookie QB, lives in Cedar Grove. And organizers of the food giveaway described DeVito as "very humble," who stayed behind to load bags into cars long after the media cameras left. "Tom...
Italians in America – Our Immigrant Stories: In this family, bound by tradition, the profession of barbering spans generations
Frank DeSante’s immigration story is so strong, it still holds four generations later. Sicilian on his mom’s side, Frank’s great-grandfather Paul (Paolo) Cannone emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s and settled in South Philadelphia. Frank’s great-uncle, Pete (Pietro) Barbaro established a barber shop at Eighth and Greenwich. Although...
Greater Philadelphia Chapter of UNICO National 2023 Community Leadership Award Gala
Big congratulations to the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of UNICO National for hosting their 2023 Community Leadership Award Gala at the magnificent The Union League venue in Philadelphia. An incredible event! Our UNICO National President, Cav. Ralph Contini, and First Lady Maria-Rose graced the occasion, joining distinguished honorees, members, and...
A centennial celebration kicks off by looking back
In 1924, the Venetian Social Club was founded at 8030 Germantown Ave. by artisans – stonemasons, bricklayers, carpenters – who had been brought to Chestnut Hill from the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of northern Italy to work on homes built by entrepreneurial developers Henry Houston and George Woodward. Many of the Italian workers who spoke little...
Italy’s National Unity and Armed Forces Day Celebrated in Washington DC
The celebrations of Italy’s Armed Forces and National Unity Day in the United States concluded in Washington with a reception at the Italian Embassy hosted by Ambassador Zappia. The event was attended by Kristyn E. Jones, Acting Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Defense Attaché Maj. Gen. ITAF Maurizio Cantiello. High-ranking officials from...
UNICO National Hosts Successful Eastern Regional Meeting & Italian American Awards Gala in Long Branch, New Jersey Honoring Thomas Arnone, County Commissioner Director
UNICO National hosted its Italian American Awards Gala on November 5 at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, NJ. The special event honored Thomas Arnone, County Commissioner Director, with UNICO’s Public Service Award, for his effective leadership in Monmouth County. Dr. Joseph Scelsa, Italian American Museum Founder & President, received t...
'Villa Firenze Contemporanea' highlights the excellence of Italian art and design
Villa Firenze Contemporanea, a showcase that was inaugurated on October 19, 2023, was born with the ambition of highlighting contemporary art and the excellence of Italian design, through a showcase for artists and designers as well as for companies, with an intent to strengthen their role in this important market. The one-of-a-kind project showcas...