Italian Education, Culture & Language Committee

WORTH REPEATING

“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.” ~ Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor, 121-180 AD)

IN THE NEWS

May 6, 2007 – AJC (Ravenna, Italy) - Mosaics Capture Italian City’s Rich Past
These days Ravenna, once a capital of three ancient empires — the Roman, the Goth and the Byzantine — all too often takes a back seat to Bologna and Parma, its better-known neighbors. What a pity. Travelers who don’t make time for Ravenna miss what is probably the most splendid treasure-trove of early Christian mosaics in the world, even including those in Istanbul, Turkey. Though some of the mosaics are nearly 1,500 years old, they still glitter and have brought the city the rare distinction of having eight World Heritage Sites. Ravenna would still be an out-of-the way backwater were it not for a relatively unknown Roman emperor, Flavius Honorius. Fearing a barbarian invasion, Flavius moved his court to Ravenna in 402 so its marshy environs could protect the land approach and the northern Adriatic Roman fleet could thwart a sea attack. It was a prescient move: The Goths sacked Rome eight years after he left. Thank Honorius’ half-sister, Galla Placidia, for the earliest of Ravenna’s great buildings, the so-called “mausoleum” she commissioned around 430. Daughter of an emperor and regent for her son, she was a powerful woman who led a dramatic life and died in Rome in 450.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/otherdestinations/int_stories/2007/05/03/0506ravenna.html

May 6, 2007 – Gwinnett Daily (GA) - Coastal Slovenian Town Shows Italian Influences
From five miles away, I realized this sprawling horizon could be anywhere in Venice: hundreds of sailboats lined against a circular harbor, the dim sound of waves massaging the stone beach, the aroma of fish and salt encouraged by a nippy, but welcoming breeze. But there was one problem: I wasn’t in Venice. Welcome to Piran, Slovenia, an old Mediterranean coastal town, situated on the westernmost part of the Istrian peninsula. Known as the jewel of the Slovenian Coast, Piran was once ruled by the Venetian Republic in the 10th century in exchange for protection from feudal lords. The Republic’s dominance ended centuries ago, but what remain are pockets of Venetian charm, where you can saunter among Venetian architecture, peruse artwork by Venetian artists and experience Venetian-influenced culture. Tartini Square is the best starting point for exploration. Named for Piran’s most famous resident, violinist Guiseppe Tartini, the white marble square resembles an ice-skating rink, with a statue of Tartini (the work of Venetian Antonio dal Zotta) dominating the middle.
For the complete story visit the following link: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=

May 7, 2007 – Daily Times (Rome, Italy) - ‘43 Percent Italians Think Immigrants Are Security Threat’
Fear and rejection of immigrants is rising in Italy where more than 43 percent consider alien residents a threat to public security, according to a poll published in the La Repubblica daily. The poll of 1,329 people, carried out last month by the Demetra institute, showed that 43.2 percent of those questioned considered immigrants “a threat to public order and the security of individuals,” up from 39.2 percent in a similar poll in July, 2005. Meanwhile, 34.6 percent in the poll published Sunday agreed that “immigrants represent a threat to our culture, our identity and our religion,” up from 26.6 percent in the 2005 poll. Least trusted were immigrants originating from Arab countries, with only 34.3 percent of those polled saying they had “much or fair faith” in this group, followed by people originally from the Balkans, who received a 42.7 percent confidence vote. Most trusted were Eastern European immigrants, with 56.4 percent of those polled saying they had faith in the group. Only 41.5 percent in Sunday’s poll meanwhile said they viewed immigrants as a resource for the national economy, down from 46.9 percent in the 2005 survey.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C07%5Cstory_7-5-2007_pg4_11

May 7, 2007 – TCPalm – (Stuart, GA) - Stuart Woman Has Christopher Columbus Connection
A visit from a replica of one of Christopher Columbus’ ships gave Treasure Coast residents the chance to touch history over the past four days. But for 63-year-old Joanne Eggert, the Niña represents a link to family history. Two words on her Spanish grandmother’s family coat of arms and a document explaining them suggest three of Eggert’s ancestors twice sailed with Columbus to the New World more than 500 years ago. The words - “Ave Maria,” Latin for “Hail Mary” - appear on a shield on the Jovè family coat of arms. The official document, written in old Spanish, explains the words were added after three brothers from the family traveled with Columbus on his first voyage in 1492 and his return to the Americas in 1493. “I don’t know what part they played and how they were involved, but they evidently were on the boat,” Eggert said.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www1.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5523913,00.html

May 7, 2007 – Boston Globe - Buongiorno, Boston
There have been many books about the American Irish, but until now the Italians who made Boston their home and changed the city have received far less attention. Stephen Puleo’s new book, “The Boston Italians,” paints a much subtler and more complicated picture than is found in the mob-obsessed stereotypes of popular culture and advertising. “I wanted to tell the real story,” Puleo said. “It’s a true American success story.” “I had always had the dream of writing books,” said Puleo, 52. The new book was rooted in his master’s thesis, about Italian immigration to the United States. Had it not been for a phone call, though, he might never have tackled it. In 2003, Robert Gormley, editor of Northeastern University Press, called him and proposed that he write the book. “There’s a strong Italian-American presence in Boston,” Gormley said in an interview, “and we thought people needed consciousness-raising on that heritage, that there’s more to it than restaurants in the North End.” Puleo jumped at the chance. “The Boston Italians” is a story of eventual success against large obstacles. All immigrants face disadvantages, but the Italians were different from those of the Irish and the Jews of Eastern Europe. The Italians didn’t depart for America and never look back. For decades, many were known as “birds of passage,” coming to America for a while, returning home, in some cases repeatedly. While this pattern was known, it was Puleo’s research at that documented it.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/05/07/buongiorno_boston/?p1=MEWell_Pos4

May 8, 2007 – Discovery News - Roman Towns Built With Astronomy
Ancient Romans built their towns using astronomically aligned grids, an Italian study has concluded. Published recently on the physics Web site, www.arXiv.org, maintained at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, the research examined the orientation of virtually all Roman towns in Italy. “It emerged that these towns were not laid out at random. On the contrary, they were planned following strong symbolic aspects, all linked to astronomy,” Giulio Magli, of the mathematics department at Milan’s Polytechnic University, told Discovery News. Part of a wider study published in Magli’s book “Secrets of the Ancient Megalithic Towns,” the research examined the orientation of some 38 towns in Italy. Magli explained that ancient Roman writers, including Ovid and Plutarch, documented how the foundation of a new town took into account the flight of birds and astronomical references. The Romans founded many towns, or colonies, especially during Rome’s Republican period and the first Imperial period, roughly from the 5th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. Their layout, inspired by the so-called castrum (a military camp), was always the same. The city consisted of a rectangle bounded by walls, with streets organized in a grid to form various residential quarters (insulae).
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/05/08/romantowns_arc.html?category=archaeology&guid=20070508113000&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

May 8, 2007 – Travel Counsellors - Italians to Clean Up Top Tourist Spots
Italian officials are desperate to clean up the top tourist spots as thousands of tourists are set to flock to the city’s attractions over the summer and have announced a number of crackdowns in order to restore Italy’s architecture to its original beauty. Residents living in the vicinity of the Trevi Fountain, Rome’s majestic 85-foot high structure, have complained that the crowds of sightseers that visit the fountain leave litter, meaning that locals are appealing for the council to collect rubbish five times per day in the area. It is not only that tourists are disrespecting the Italian streets, according to local claims, but also the pure mass of tourist traffic has led to structural damage around the fountain, leading a potential ban on larger tourist coaches around the attraction to be posited, according to the Daily Mail. “There are 20 times as many people arriving as the streets can bear,” said Fabio Nicolucci, a member of the local council. “Everyone is pleased that the roads will be resurfaced in July, but it is not enough.” This news comes as Italian officials in Venice launch a new steward scheme, which not only scout for potential litter bugs, but will patrol around St Mark’s to stop tourists sunbathing and picnicking in the square. Mr. Vianello said he hoped to restore “decorum and cleanliness” to the square, after the council already banned sunbathing on the steps of St Mark’s Basilica.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://news.travelcounsellors.co.uk/Italians_to_clean_up_top_tourist_spots_18141366.html

May 9, 2007 – Reuters (Milan, Italy) - Italians Given Drug Test Kits for Teens
Milan authorities are handing out free urine testing kits to parents of teenagers so they can find out if their children are using illegal drugs. In a part of the northern Italian city controlled by the right-wing National Alliance party, almost 4,000 families will receive a coupon which they can exchange for a kit to test for some of the most widely used drugs including cannabis and cocaine. “It’s a decision I took as a councilor and as a mother,” said the head of health in the Milan Zone 6 area, Carla De Albertis. “Because I believe the family. . . must be the educative means that can stem the drug abuse phenomenon.” The kits, available free to all parents of children aged between 13 and 16, are similar to pregnancy tests in that they need to be dipped in urine for a few seconds and then give a positive or negative reading for a variety of drugs. The politicians behind the scheme hope to extend it throughout the whole of Milan, Italy’s financial and fashion capital. For decades Italy has been swinging between prohibitionist and liberal policies to cope with its drugs problem – which is comparable with other European countries. Romano Prodi’s centre-left government has proposed easing penalties on users, a move condemned by the right which favors clamping down on both dealers and consumers. It remains to be seen how teenagers will react when asked by their parents to “just say yes” to a drugs test. “If my mother asked me to take a test like that, I’d hate her for the rest of my life,” 16-year-old Marta told La Stampa daily. “She would instantly become my worst enemy instead of my closest confidante and the person I run to with my problems.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4053635a4560.html

May 9, 2007 – Tribune Media - Experiencing Rome’s Culture “In Situ’
Throughout Italy, early evening is a time to stroll. As I walk through the streets of the Eternal City with my Roman friends, they explain the ritual of this promenade: While elsewhere in Italy it’s called the passeggiata, in Rome it’s a cruder, big-city version called the struscio (which means “rub”). Unemployment among Italy’s youth is very high; many live with their parents even into their thirties. They spend a lot of time being trendy and hanging out. Hard-core cruisers from the Roman suburbs, which lack pleasant public spaces, congregate on the downtown boulevard Via del Corso to make the scene. The Vespa (motor scooter) is their symbol; haircuts and fashion are follow-the-leader. In a more genteel small town, the passeggiata comes with sweet whispers of “bella” and “bello” (“pretty” and “handsome”), as the boys and girls eye each other. But in Rome, the admiration is more strongly oriented toward consumption -- they say “buona” and “buono,” meaning "good" (terms used to describe food). Police barricades keep out the traffic as, from Piazza del Popolo down Via del Corso and up Via Condotti to the Spanish Steps, shoppers, people-watchers, chunky middle-aged Italians and young flirts on the prowl make the scene. In their travels, tourists are often content to “experience” the art and culture of a great city such as Rome in museums and on stage. But I strive to be engulfed in the living culture, to enjoy it “in situ” -- the art-history term for “on location.”
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/09/rome.insitu/

May 10, 2007 – Telegraph - Tourists Destroying Il Postino Beach
The secluded Italian beach made famous by the Oscar-winning film Il Postino has been almost destroyed by tourists. The film, which was shot in 1994, used Pollara beach on the Aeolian island of Salina as a backdrop for fictional conversations between the South American poet Pablo Neruda and a simple Italian postman. Then, the beach was a wide, 33 ft expanse of sand enclosed on three sides by cliffs. Now, a little more than a decade on, regular visits from tourist boats have eroded the shoreline and only 12 ft of sand remains. The beach is the star attraction of Salina, which has become wildly popular with holidaying Italian celebrities and tourists. “We keep warning them, but it seems they are determined to sink this beautiful bay,” said Fabrizio Leofante, a spokesman for Italia Nostra, a group that safeguards Italian culture and landmarks. The main problem is the “thousands” of boats that fill the bay, which drag sand back with them when they depart to sea, he said. However, he added: “We have also photographed tourists taking home bags of sand and rock without anyone stopping them.”
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/10/wpostino10.xml

THE JOHN D. CALANDRA ITALIAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE

The most comprehensive listing of Italian and Italian American events for New York can be viewed at: http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/calandra/community/commcal.html

SONIA GANDHI
The Italian who became India’s kingmaker
By Suketu Mehta, Time – May 14, 2007

Imagine if the U.S. were run by an Indian Hindu woman without a college degree. It’s tough: the U.S. has never elected anyone who’s not Christian, white and male-even as Vice President. But India, which is an even bigger democracy, is run in all but name by an Italian Catholic widow with a high school education. In the 16 years since the assassination of her husband Rajiv, Sonia Gandhi, nee Maino, has become the face of the country’s most famous family. As leader of India’s Congress Party, she has also managed the largest political party in the country and steered it to power. And she has done all this wearing a sari. When her party won national elections in 2004, she was offered the prime ministership; she listened to her “inner voice” and turned it down, and anointed the economist Manmohan Singh in her stead. It was a gesture that was, well, Gandhian. And it solidified her hold on power. For ordinary Indians, this act of renunciation held tremendous mythic resonance. Though Singh is Prime Minister, it is Sonia, 60, who is the kingmaker. And her most lasting legacy may lie in her children Rahul and Priyanka, one of whom may well become India’s Prime Minister someday, ascending to the high office that their mother has-thus far-spurned.

POPE THANKS SWISS GUARDS FOR DEDICATED, LOYAL SERVICE
The Long Island Catholic – May 9, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI thanked the Swiss Guards for their dedicated and loyal service of watching over the Vatican and keeping popes safe. The Swiss Guard’s 500 years of service to the church in Rome reflects “a long history of loyalty and generous service always offered with dedication, at times to the point of heroically sacrificing one’s life,” he said. The pope’s comments came May 5 during a special audience with Swiss Guards and 38 new recruits. New soldiers are sworn in during a colorful ceremony at the Vatican every May 6 to commemorate the day 150 Swiss Guards died saving Pope Clement VII’s life during the sack of Rome May 6, 1527. Pope Benedict said the guards’ dedication has “rightly earned them the esteem and trust of all pontiffs” who have always been able to count on their “help, support, and protection.” “Thank you, dear friends, for your quiet, but efficient presence next to the figure of the pope; thank you for your professionalism and also for the love with which you carry out your mission,” he said. He told the guards to remember that in addition to being “exemplary soldiers” they are also called to be “good Christians.” “The Lord is calling you to holiness,” he said, and urged them to live a life of simplicity, solidarity and prayer.

LEGISLATION UPDATE – 3 NEW CO-SPONSORS

H.R.1609
Title: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi.
Sponsor: Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] (introduced 3/20/2007). Latest Major Action: 3/20/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Cosponsors (30): Rep Bilirakis, Gus M.; Rep Blumenauer, Earl; Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z.; Rep Brown, Corrine; Rep Brown, Henry E. Jr.; Rep Carnahan, Russ; Rep Cohen, Steve; Rep Crowley, Joseph; Rep Filner, Bob; Rep Fossella, Vito; Rep Hare, Phil; Rep Holt, Rush D.; Rep Israel, Steve; Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila; Rep King, Peter T.; Rep Lamborn, Doug; Rep Lantos, Tom; Rep Lowey, Nita M.; Rep Maloney, Carolyn B.; Rep Matsui, Doris O.; Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G.; Rep Mica, John L.; Rep Moran, James P.; Rep Payne, Donald M.; Rep Renzi, Rick; Rep Sarbanes, John P.; Rep Shays, Christopher; Rep Space, Zachary T.; Rep Towns, Edolphus; and Rep Watson, Diane E.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR01609:@@@P
Nota: If your congressional representative is not listed, please contact him/her and ask for their support of this important legislation. Grazie millie.

LET IN THE 1860’S! LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM EXPANDS
By Mark Wellborn, New York Observer – May 14, 2007

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is expanding. On May 1, the museum closed on a deal to buy the five-story building at 81 Delancey Street for just under $7 million, according to Renee Epps, the museum’s executive vice president. The museum made out pretty well, as the18,000 square-foot building was listed at $8.95 million on brokerage Massey Knakal’s Web site. The purchase expands the museum’s neighborhood portfolio, which already includes buildings at 91 and 97 Orchard Street. “We are one of the most visited tourist attractions in New York City,” Ruth Abram, the museum’s president and founder, told The Observer. “We had to turn away people last year; we were desperate to expand.” The museum is perhaps best known for its tours of apartments that have been redone to resemble tenements from the late-19th and early-20th centuries. “We have long wanted to interpret stories prior to 1860 and after 1935,” Ms. Abram said. “The new building will allow us to do this.” Despite the purchase, the current tenants on the upper floors of 81 Delancey need not fear eviction: The museum will only occupy the basement and the first two floors of the building, all of which are currently vacant. Ms, Abram said that she expects the renovations on 81 Delancey will take about two years.

REFLECTION

By Prof. Silvia Montemurro

A look in the mirror,
and what do I see?
Parcels of family stamped
all over me.
Hazel-eyed genes of Grandma’s
so keen.
Bridge of a nose much like
dear old Aunt Rose
Cheekbones with chisel
from Dad’s sculptured drizzle.
And Lips finely kissed
with Mom’s sacred bliss.
Now go deeper inside
where my soul doth reside;
Ignited by fire of centuries old,
Italian-American forever Bold!

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER
THE REAL ROMAN GLADIATOR MAXIMUS
Malaysia Sun, May 8, 2007

Archaeologists have discovered a new mosaic depicting a superstar gladiator, who won the hearts of the people, much like Maximus, the general-turned-fighter played by Russell Crowe in the movie ‘Gladiator.’
The image was discovered just outside Rome at the residence of Emperor Commodus.
The movie version of Commodus, played by actor Joaquin Phoenix, was Maximus’ enemy.
Researchers say the pictured fighter was probably a star gladiator fancied by the real Commodus, who was an enthusiast of blood sports.
Riccardo Frontoni, an archaeologist working with Rome’s Department of Cultural Heritage, came across the mosaic, while digging in a field near the remains of the Villa dei Quintili, Commodus’ countryside residence.
The dwelling is along the Via Appia Antica, an ancient way that connected Rome to southern Italy.
“It’s a rather poor piece on the artistic side, black and white and not too detailed. Historically it’s noteworthy because it doesn’t depict a fantasy or mythological scene, but real people from everyday life: a gladiator and a referee in the act of proclaiming him winner. The inscription in the mosaic informs that the fighter’s name was Montanus, probably a nickname, and the referee’s name was Antonius,” said Frontoni.
The mosaic depicts the gladiator wearing light leather armor over his left arm and shoulder, his neck, and the back of his head. He is armed with a trident and a net.
“It’s the typical equipment of gladiators called retiarii. In combat games, usually a retiarius fought against a secutor, a gladiator armed with a sword and a shield,” National Geographic quoted Frontoni as saying.
“The presence of the inscription with the name - a quite unusual feature - suggests that Montanus was a famous gladiator, beloved by ancient Romans like [how modern sports fans idolize] today’s football stars,” he said.
“Gladiators were living social contradictions. They shared a dangerous and humiliating job, but, on the other hand, low-class Roman people and even noblewomen hero-worshipped them,” added Luciano Canfora, a historian and professor of classical philology at Italy’s University of Bari.
Commodus, who ruled the Roman Empire from AD 180 to 192, was a well-known fan of gladiatorial combat. He loved to fight in the arena himself as a secutor, much to the scandal of Roman noble families.
Members of Roman Senatus disapproved of him for such an inconvenient behavior. Also because of his title, opponents always submitted to Commodus. But, he was still proud of his physical strength and fancied himself as the reincarnation of Hercules.
“On the contrary, the plebs - the-low class people - showed appreciation for the emperor’s peculiar interest and loved to see him fighting,” said Canfora.
Frontoni however, clarified that Commodus did not commission the unusual mosaic.
“Commodus was born in 161 AD. The picture covers the floor of a bathhouse built around 130 AD, and we think the mosaic is the same age of the building, so it was there before Commodus’ birth. At the time, the Quintilii family owned the villa. They were friends of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus’ father. I imagine that Commodus as a child used to visit Quintilii’ residence and to admire the mosaic of Montanus. He probably knew and fancied the fighter,” said Frontoni.
http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/f825b92e19df636a/id/247202/cs/1/

BRAVO! ITALIAN BIOTECH – ITALY SHINES IN BIO 2007 SPOTLIGHT
Time – May 14, 2007

More than 40 of Italy’s best and brightest biotech firms, universities, research institutes and trade organizations took center stage at the recent BIO 2007 International Convention in Boston. They were part of the Italian Pavilion organized by the Italian Trade Commission. Each demonstrated world-class advancements and opportunities in biotechnology research, commercialization and investment. The Pavilion included ventures from across Italy, with official representation from three key regions: Lombardy, Piedmont and Sardinia. Italy’s presence at BIG 2007 also included events that showcased the nation’s burgeoning biotech sector and its new focus on collaboration and commercialization. The goal was to inform the Convention’s international audience that the phrase “Made in Italy” is now synonymous with innovation and quality in biotechnology, as well as in art, fashion and design.

ALMANAC
Italic Institute of America

May 2 - Leonardo Da Vinci dies in France in 1519.
May 3 - Political theorist and historian Niccolo Macchiavelli is born in 1469. America’s Founding Fathers based much of our political system on Macchiavelli’s writings. He believed that human nature does not change.
- Rock singer Franki Valli of the Four Seasons is born in 1937.
May 4 - Inventor of the piano (pianoforte), Bartolomeo Cristofari, is born in 1655.
May 6 - Italian-American financier Amadeo Giannini is born in San Jose, CA in 1870. He founded the Bank of America and TransAmerica. He first developed branch banking and financed the Golden Gate Bridge and Disney’s first feature, Snow White.
May 8 - The world’s first published health enthusiast, Luigi Cornaro, dies in 1566 at age 98. At one point in his long life he recommended a diet of just one egg a day.
May 9 - In 1936, Italian forces under General Badoglio entered Addis Ababa to end the Italo-Abyssinian War after a nine month conflict.
- American aviator Cesare Sabelli dies in 1984. He is credited with the first airborne radio transmission in 1928. Fittingly, the call was made to Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the wireless, then in London.
May 11 - Giuseppe Garibaldi and his 1000 Red Shirts land in Sicily to free the island from 400 years of Spanish-Neapolitan rule.
May 12 - Italic general Napoleon of France ends the 1100-year independence of the Republic of Venice in 1797. The city was founded by Romans escaping barbarians in the 6th century.
- Often quoted Yankee catcher Yogi Berra is born in 1925.
May 16 - Actor Henry Fonda, is born in 1905. The Fonda family was Italian Protestants who fled to Holland during the 17th century.
May 18 - Filmmaker Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life) is born in 1897.
- Crooner Perry Como is born in 1913.
May 21 - Anatomist Girolamo Fabricius dies in 1619. He founded the science of embryology.
May 23 - Religious reformer Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in 1498 in Florence. He predated Martin Luther.
May 29 - The first Italian-American detective on the New York City police force, Joseph Petrosino, is born in 1860. He was assassinated in Sicily by the Black Hand. The movies Black Hand and Pay or Die are based on his crime fighting.
May 31 - Prince Ranier III of Monaco is born in 1923. His Grimaldi family dynasty was founded in the year 1017.
http://italic.org/

MOTHER CABRINI'S MISSIONS IN NEW YORK
By Jennifer McCabe

Traveling to and from many different places throughout the world, Mother Cabrini made remarkable achievements in New York. Mother Cabrini's mission to New York was by her standards thought to be small since the United States was an already civilized country. She realized later on that this was not to be an easy mission. In 1889, she arrived off the boat with over one thousand immigrants ready to begin a new life. The travel from Europe to New York was not an easy one. To pass time, these missionaries sang, preyed and held catechism classes with the travelers to help them get through the rough trip as well as help themselves. They docked in New York on March 31, 1889.
This was a frightening change of pace for the sisters and Mother Cabrini because it was nothing like their home in Codogna. New York was the same bustling city it is today and the traffic and fast paced activity surrounding them was overwhelming. New York was a city easy to forget its religion and it was up to Frances for the immigrants to remember God.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the trip did not go as planned due to the search at Ellis Island they were required to go through but also because the house they were to be staying in to start their mission did not exist. The first night there, they stayed in a dingy apartment in the Italian ghetto. Frightened these courageous woman stayed awake all night rather then have to sleep in the dirty beds. The next morning more bad new followed when they were told that the school they were to start was not prepared due to the tenants still inhabiting the building which needed to be repaired. Also the missionaries stipends that they were to receive for the school were not available either making a difficult trip worse. Mother Cabrini was in a city where she knew no one, nor, how to speak the language, yet would not give up. After realizing that New York lost touch with God, the mission was to restore faith to the hopefuls.
Upon going to New York, Mother Cabrini wanted to start a new school and an orphanage for the homeless. The Archbishop Corrigan, who was not completely supportive, told the sisters to abandon any idea of opening an orphanage and to just concentrate on the school. He did, however, manage to find them housing and placed them at the convent of the sisters of Charity. They were permitted to stay there as long as was necessary. Quickly the sisters began to work going out and introducing themselves to the community and working within the parish located on 59th Street. The Italian immigrants enjoyed having the sisters in their community and it also helped to reinforce their religion. “There were very few Italian priests in New York and, apparently, no sisters” (Galilea, 66) Most of the immigrants did not speak English so it made it difficult to attend mass when nothing was understood. This caused there to be a separation of faith which Mother Cabrini wanted to restore. Many of the immigrants had not gone to confession for years and some had not attended mass for over two or three decades. This saddened Mother Cabrini and she knew her mission was clear and she was not one to let things go unattended.
One major benefactress was the Countess of Cesnola who contributed greatly to the restoration of faith in the Italian community. The Countess was kind enough to donate a large building in the wealthier section of town. On Palm Sunday of 1890, an orphanage was established. Part of this orphanage would be used for the sisters as a convent and the other would be for the homeless and underprivileged children in New York. On May 3, 1890 the first mass at the Sacred Heart chapel was prepared and Monsignor Corrigan, who was originally skeptical, read. To this day this chapel is considered the first American motherhouse of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. A little over a month later on June 29, 1890 the first batch of orphans arrived at the Sacred Heart orphanage.
The missionaries were pleased with their work at the orphanage and continued to familiarize themselves with the neighborhood. The necessity of this was to continue collecting donations for the upkeep of the orphanage. Lower East Side Manhattan which was Little Italy, was beginning to realize the seriousness of these sisters of the Sacred Heart and love them for their support and aid to a poor area. The school which was taught in the church did not begin as successfully as did the orphanage. "Classes for the children were still conducted in the church under the worst conditions and with constant interruptions"(Galilea, 68). A lot of repair was needed but Frances Cabrini had no intentions of ever giving up and soon she purchased a house in an intolerable condition. This was not a problem to the sisters because at least this way they were closer to their Italian community. It was in the courtyard of this home that the sisters would begin to give religious instruction for the children to bring them closer to God.
Since her school/orphanage was budding she planned to bring across the Atlantic more help. It was necessary for there to be more religious teachers around the community to help spread the word. On June 1, 1890 nine sisters came to New York under Mother Cabrini's insistence and four were placed in the school and five were placed in the orphanage. Seeing how things were doing well in the Spring of 1890, Mother Cabrini acquired property at West Park on the Hudson River, near Peekskill. West Park was to become an orphanage but also a resting place for the sisters of the Sacred Heart. This place was one of Mother Cabrini's favorite places to visit due to its relaxing atmosphere and beautiful view.
Mother Cabrini played an important role in the development of Columbus Hospital. In 1891 this hospital was developed by her friend the Bishop Scalabrini. This was to be a charity hospital located on East 109th Street. The establishment of Columbus Hospital was due to the poverty and sickness among Italian immigrants. Her intention for the hospital was to not only offer physical healing, but moral and spiritual consolation as well. As this was being prepared her work within the United States was expanding. In 1892 she laid down the foundations of a convent, school and orphanage in New Orleans. New Orleans was a ghetto just like New York which desperately needed a spiritual touch. The buildings that were built under Mother Cabrini were a blessing for the Italian community who so desperately needed them. The establishment of the convent, school, and orphanage helped the Sacred Heart missionaries gain more recognition then before and it was in the name of God.
Between Mother Cabrini’s schools, orphanages, convents, or hospitals the expansion was rapid. The quickness and thoroughness with which she performed everything allowed her desire of Catholicism to spread to other places such as California and Chicago as well. She would establish churches and schools at the same time and each would be a success. Soon she thought of the idea of bilingual schools which was approved by the Archbishop of New York. “She established a church for the Italians. At the same time, in the center of New York, next to the Italian parish of Our Lady of Pompeii, she opened another mission-church for immigrants and a trade school where the sisters would teach women sewing and other skills” (Galilea, 112).
Many more schools, convents, and hospitals emerged in New York and throughout the United States. Due to Mother Cabrini and usually without any interruption she received what she wanted. She was a devout Catholic with a good head for business. Nothing ever stopped her from receiving what she wanted. Not her frail body which was often breaking down or her age. Everyone who came into contact with her was spiritually blessed and everything she built up in the name of the Lord succeeded with new believers and renewed spirits.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/mccabe.html

PROVERBO ITALIANO

Quando la fame entra dalla porta, l’amore esce della finestra.
When hunger enters by the door, love leaves by the window.

ART
ANSA - Rome, May 4, 2007

The following is a city-by-city guide to some of Italy’s top art exhibitions.

AREZZO - Museo Statale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna: Piero della Francesca masterpieces including his first painting, a Madonna and Child, missing for 50 years until its recent discovery. Other attractions are dyptych of Urbino rulers Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza, which has left the Uffizi for the first time; the Louvre’s portrait of Rimini lord Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta; St Jerome from the Galleria dell’Accademia in Venice; a Madonna from Venice’s Cini Foundation; and the Madonna di Senigallia from Urbino. Show combined with tour of surrounding villages where Piero (1412-1492) made his name in the 1430s including Sansepolcro with its Madonna della Misericordia polyptych and Resurrection fresco, and Monterchi's Madonna del Parto. Until July 22.
BARLETTA - Palazzo della Marra: Zandomeneghi, De Nittis, Renoir. The Painters of Happiness; Italy’s only “true” Impressionist artist, Federico Zandomeneghi, is being celebrated in a new show that also explores his ties with two of his famous contemporaries: Auguste Renoir and Giuseppe De Nittis; until July 15.
FLORENCE - Uffizi: Albrecht Durer Engraver; the show features 180 prints and drawings created by the German artist (1471-1528) and his Italian contemporaries. The exhibit coincides with a major Durer show in Rome. Until June 10.
- Palazzo Strozzi: Florence and Paul Cezanne; of some 100 works on display, around 20 are by the French artist, including some of his most famous paintings: Madame Cezanne
in a Red Armchair, The Bathers and House on the Marne, a very rare loan from the White House. The show also includes paintings by some of Cezanne’s contemporaries, including Pissarro, Van Gogh, Matisse and John Singer Sargent; until July 29.
FORLI - San Domenico Museum: Silvestro Lega; the exhibit spotlights an important collection of work by one of the leading lights of Italy's 19th-century Macchiaioli
movement. Over 100 of Lega’s paintings are featured, including many which have never been displayed before. Until June 27.
LIVORNO - Centro Arte Guastalla Gallery: Marc Chagall, 80 etchings from the 1920s and 30s, when the Russian master was at the peak of his powers. Until June 24
MILAN - Palazzo Reale: Kandinsky and Italian Art; the show looks at how Wassily Kandinsky’s work in the first decade of the 20th century shaped the development of a group of Italian artists in the 1930s and 1940s. Until June 24.
MODENA - Foro Boario: Vermeer, the Young Woman at a Virginal and the Painters of Delft, 30 works by 17th-century Dutch masters. Until July 15.
PADUA - Palazzo Zabarella: Giorgio de Chirico; the show brings together over 100 paintings, many of them on loan from abroad. It aims to illustrate the complexity and contradictions of de Chirico’s career over 60 years, rather than focusing on his earlier, more famous, Metaphysical paintings. Until May 27.
PARMA - Magnani Rocca Foundation: Mario Sironi, a comprehensive look at neglected Metaphysical works of the Futurist painter who was, until recently, tainted by his
links with Fascism. Until July 15.
RAVENNA - Museum of Art: Felice Casorati: Painting Silence; this major exhibition celebrates one of Italy’s most enigmatic modern artists. It features around 100 works
on loan from museums and private collections. Until July 15.
ROME - Scuderie del Quirinale: Albrecht Durer and Italy; the show features over 200 works by the German artist, the local artists who inspired him, and the Italians he in turn
inspired. Durer masterpieces have been loaned by museums in Vienna, Washington, Madrid and London and Germany. These are displayed alongside works by Leonardo, Mantegna, Bellini, Raphael, Caravaggio and Carracci. Until June 9.
- Vittoriano: Marc Chagall; a major show featuring 180 works on loan from the world’s leading museums and important private collectors. Curated by Claudia Zevi and Chagall’s niece Meret Meyer, it focuses on the twin influences on Chagall’s art of his native Russia and Judaism. Until July 1.
- Colosseum: Eros; this show brings together a series of outstanding artworks which seek to shed light on the familiar yet enigmatic figure of Eros. Organizers say it offers an opportunity to look at the liberty and spontaneity with which the Greeks lived their sexuality – homosexual relations included. The show also looks at how the image of Eros evolved over the centuries, gradually ‘declining’ into the decorative putto - the podgy, winged baby Cupid of Italian Renaissance art. Until September 18.
- National Gallery of Modern Art: Arturo Martini; the show features over 100 sculptures representing key moments in Martini’s artistic development. His work used traditional
materials, such as bronze, stone and terracotta, and harked back to classical and medieval themes. Yet at the same time, Martini forged an innovative, sweeping style that was
considered entirely original. Until May 13.
- Quirinale Palace: Masterpieces of European Art; a selection of Europe’s finest and most representative artworks is on show to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the
Treaty of Rome. The 27 EU countries have each lent a masterpiece that is emblematic of their history;until May 20.
- Palazzo Venezia: Julian Schnabel; the show features a number of Schnabel’s celebrated plate paintings, his signature works which use a base surface of broken crockery to create some surprising visual effects. A section of the show is devoted to portraits of celebrities and friends of the US artist; until June 17.
TURIN - Palazzo Madama: Alexander’s Heirs in Asia, From Seleucia to Gandhara; the exhibition highlights the massive cultural influence Alexander the Great’s conquests had in Western Asia after his death; the show concentrates on archaeological finds from the fourth century BC to the third century AD uncovered at the city of Seleucia on the Tigris in present-day Iraq and at the Swat Valley, in what was the Gandhara kingdom. Until May 27.
VENICE - Museo Correr: Sargent and Venice; John Singer Sargent visited Venice more than 10 times between 1879 and 1913 and its palaces, churches, squares and canals feature in over 150 of his paintings. Around 60 are on display in this major show. Until July 22.
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news-detailed.asp?newsid=5187

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 20, 2007 – CSJ/B’nai B’rith Solidarity Breakfast at the Coral House, Baldwin. Contact: Richard Haemmerle at (516) 731-1811 or Marge Moschella at (516) 249-2879.
May 20, 2007 - The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum and the St. John’s University Office of Community Relations (Staten Island campus) invite you to celebrate the bicentenary of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s birth with The Richmond County Orchestra’s Concerto di Primavera 2007, conducted by Maestro Alan Aurelia, and featuring international pop singing star, Giada Valenti! 3 PM. St. John’s Campus Center. Suggested donation at door: $15/general public, $10/seniors, St. John’s students and children 12 and under free.
June 2, 2007 – NYSOSIA Scholarship Program to be held at the VFW Post 2973, 16 Ramapo Avenue, Suffern, NY. 9:30 AM. $20 pp. Contact: Michele Ment, (845) 225-1144.
June 7-10, 2007 – 101^st Annual NYSOSIA State Convention at the Holiday Inn, Albany. More information to follow. Contact: Rae Lanzilotta at (516) 334-0830.
June 15, 2007 – Garibaldi Meucci Museum presents a Wine Tasting Event on Il Grande Prato. 6:30 PM. For more information contact the Museum at (718) 442-1608.
June 16, 2006 - Common Ground Summer Series in Sayville, LI, NY. Vital Records Recording Artist Michéal Castaldo (Centennial Lodge #2828) performs the timeless and classic Italian songs from his critically acclaimed CD ‘Villa.’ 8:30 PM. Rotary Park, between Candee and Gillette Avenues. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket and folding chairs. For more information: www.michealcastaldo.com
June 21, 2007 – 102^nd OSIA Anniversary Wreath Laying Ceremony with Dinner to follow at SPQR Restaurant, Little Italy, Manhattan. More information to follow. Contact: Sylvia Summa, (718) 384-7915 or John Fratta, (212) 619-0602.
June 25, 2007 – Italian Night at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. More information to follow. Contact: Carolyn Reres, (516) 358-5010.
August 22, 2007 - Fr. John Papallo Lodge # 2684 presents Lady Liberty Cruise. Relax aboard the MV Sterling as she sets sail from Long Island’s out of Port Washington en route to view the Statue of Liberty. Your cruise offers a view of Long Island's Gold Coast and Millionaires Row of ­Kings Point, New York City's famous skyline and the ultimate close up of the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor. You will enjoy a complete Luncheon, three hour open bar, musical entertainment, dancing and spectacular views. $105 per person. Contact: Sal LaFonte, (631) 269-0062 or John Misso, (631) 656-6279.
September 8, 2007 - Fr. John Papallo Lodge # 2684 presents Ellis Island. This tour offers you the opportunity to visit both the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, that beautifully restored island of memories. With its many exhibits and memorial wall, it has become a sentimental journey for many of our travelers. Upon our return from Ellis Island, we will enjoy a delicious dinner in Little Italy at Sal Anthonys SPQR Restaurant. $77 per person. Contact: Sal LaFonte, (631) 269-0062 or John Misso, (631) 656-6279.
September 15, 2007 – NYS CSJ sponsors it annual Day at the Races at Belmont Park. $42 per adult and $25, children 3-12. For reservations contact: Tony Corsello, (516) 766-5518; Lee Cerullo, (516) 671-1693; or Rick Annichiarico, (631) 757-1439.
September 30, 2007 – Garibaldi Meucci Museum Brunch at George Washington Manor, Old Northern Boulevard, Roslyn. 10:30 AM. $55 pp. Contact: Connie Conte at (516) 794-1089.
October 7, 2007 – District I and II Columbus Day Parade. More information to follow. Contact: Roy Perticone, (631) 242-5492.
October 28, 2007 – Loggia Glen Cove #1016 presents Tracing Italian American Immigrant History. Glen Cove Public Library. 2:30 PM. Contact: Kathryn Grande, (516) 676-7436.
November 4, 2007 – Gift of Sight Annual Fund Raiser Luncheon at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, 1 PM. Contact: Angelo Ferrara, (516) 328-3165.
April 17, 2008 – The John A. Prudenti Lodge # 2442 presents “Scenes from Sicily.” This tour includes: 12 day escorted tour with stays in Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, Taormina, and visits to Piazza Armerina and Monreale. Optional trips to Mount Etna, Aeolian Islands, Erice, Segesta and a Sicilian farm are offered during free time, or participants can shop, go to the beach, visit museums, etc. Daily breakfast, 3 dinners, deluxe motorcoach, guided tours in above cities, and hotels with private bath are included. An extension to Rome is available at the end of the trip. Cost: $2960 per person. Price is good until May 27, 2007, and a $300 deposit “freezes” this price for you until final payment is due (Feb. 07, 2008). Contact: Cliff Miller, (631) 563-8413.

Nota del Redattore:

• The Italian Heritage & Culture Committee will send out a weekly news synopsis of articles and announcements of interest which compliment the Italian and Italian American Experience in America. Our sister and brother members are encouraged to submit items of interest.
• This report is available online at: http://www.nysosia.org/heritage.asp

Respectfully submitted:
Robert Necci
Coordinator - Italian Education, Culture & Language Committee
Chair – Italian Heritage & Culture Committee
2101 Bellmore Avenue
Bellmore, NY 11710-5605

CultureNYSOSIA@optonline.net

STATE PRESIDENT CARLO MATTEUCCI
Goals & Objectives – 2005-07 Administration

ITALIAN CULTURE, HERITAGE and EDUCATION
To promote, preserve, and support our Italian culture, heritage, and language by implementing
this element of the Order in our parades, functions, meetings, and conventions.