December 4, 2005 …. A day that will live in the memory of all OSIA Brothers and Sisters that were present … the Institution of the Centennial Lodge No. 2828, New York City, the initiation of the members and the installation of the lodge officers.
As we awoke in the early morning and looked outside the window … it looked like a Winter Wonderland. It was the first snowfall of the season. Not enough to cause a problem … but just enough to really begin to get that special warm feeling of the upcoming holidays. Our thought was … “Happy is the lodge that snow falls on!”
The day began with many attending 11:30 am mass at St. Francis Xavier Church on 16th Street in Manhattan. At about 1:00 pm the Institution Ceremony began … at a very special venue … right in the church itself. This is probably the first time a lodge was installed in a church … and a “cathedral like” church it was. The church building was built in 1882 and is in the traditional form of a Latin cross. The interior, with its polished granite columns, rounded arches, and coffered ceiling, is modeled after the Cathedral of Pisa, Italy. It was simply magnificent and the staff at the church couldn’t have been any nicer and accommodating to us.
State 1st Vice President and Membership Chairperson Nancy DiFiore Quinn welcomed everyone to the special event. She thanked the sponsoring lodges, Per Sempre Lodge No. 2344 and Per Sempre Ladies Lodge No. 2344A … and the co-sponsoring lodges, Verrazano Lodge No. 212, Daughters & Sons of Italian Heritage Lodge No. 2428, Lt. Joseph Petrosino Lodge No. 2741 and Fr. John Papallo Lodge No. 2684. These lodges offset the cost of regalia, membership pins, membership cards, constitution books, ritual books and by-law books.
National 5th Vice President Joseph J. DiTrapani was thanked for lending the upstairs room of his wonderful midtown restaurant “Aqua Pazza” for the lodge to meet on several occasions. Both he and Past First Lady Carol DiTrapani also donated two huge trays of Italian cookies for the collation. Brother John Misso and Sister Maria Misso donated a very proud looking “golden lion” for the lodge meetings.
And … the very generous Executive Board of the Grand Council donated the beautiful silk banner that will represent the lodge proudly well into the future. Kudos to State President Carlo Matteucci, State 1st Vice President Nancy DiFiore Quinn, State 2nd Vice President Salvatore Lanzilotta, State IPP, Joseph J. DiTrapani, State Orator Thomas Lupo, State Recording Secretary Joseph D’Amico, State Financial Secretary Carolyn Reres, State Corresponding Secretary Carmine Federico, State Treasurer Bruce Lankewish, State Principal Trustee Nicholas Mauro and New York State Deputy Santina Haemmerle.
Before beginning the actual Institution Ceremony, National Immediate Past President Joseph Sciame addressed the audience with reflections of how the formation of the lodge began over a year ago while he was serving as National President. He explained that the lodge really did not start in New York City, but rather commenced with a Brooklyn born Greg Cannizaro … who now lives in California is the founding president of the Hollywood Lodge in California. Greg said he had many friends here on the east coast and put Joe Sciame in touch with JoAnn Robertozzi … and the rest is history. As for the name of the lodge, it was then National President Joe Sciame’s suggestion to name it the Centennial Lodge since hopefully it would be brought into the Order during the Centennial Year Celebration … and that it was.
The first step for the ceremony was to “Institute” the lodge. Per Sempre Lodge President John Gerbasio and Per Sempre Ladies Lodge President Joan Rondinelli opened up a Per Sempre meeting and preceded with the ritual. The three founders of the lodge …. JoAnn Robertozzi, Giulia Prestia and Edward Bruno were called to affirm that all of the candidates for membership of the new lodge meet the requirements for membership. State Recording Secretary Joseph D’Amico read the charter …. and so it began, the Centennial Lodge No. 2828 of NYC!
The next step was to “Initiate” the members into the lodge. All of the Executive Board took part in the ceremony … acting as Heralds and Assistant Heralds with State President Carlo Matteucci at the helm. A total of 33 members were sworn into the Centennial Lodge No. 2828 … and a proud group they were. This lodge is made up of mainly “metropolitan” Italian American men and women … many of who are involved in the theater and the arts. Everyone in attendance agreed that it was so refreshing to see many younger faces being welcomed into our beloved Order.
The last step … was the “Installation” of the officers of the lodge and what a splendid installation it was. The new President is JoAnn Robertozzi … Vice President ~ Giulia Prestia, Immediate Past President ~ Edward Bruno, Orator ~ Antonella Farro, Recording Secretary ~ Anthony Scotto, Financial Secretary ~ Michelle DelPizzo, Treasurer ~ Michael DeMasi, Principal Trustee ~ Joanne Bongiorno, Trustee ~ Nancy Panarella, Trustee ~ Michael Castaldo, Trustee ~ Antoinette Silicato, Trustee ~ Silvia Avella, Mistress of Ceremony ~ Tina DiMartino, Mistress of Ceremony ~ Sandra Kochman, Guard ~ Ed Bruno. We are confident that this fine group of Italian American role models have what it takes to get this lodge moving in a positive direction.
In her acceptance speech, President Robertozzi said: “Today, we have a global economy in an age of information. Never before has the hackneyed phrase, “melting pot,” been so applicable to describe a worldly climate. Pasquale and Wong’s, if you remember that restaurant on the West Side, may have been a bit too far ahead of its time. Cultures mix now, more than ever, and it is a great thing to see walls so readily destructed in the name of knowing thy neighbor, and more often loving thy neighbor as evidenced by futurists who predict that in the coming centuries, ethnic distinction will cease to exist. Yet, it is whether tradition, contribution and culture remain that is up to those of us who still value it and consider it worthy of embrace. As New Yorkers, we have come to value diversity, often delighting in the differences by the diner-size menu of choices at our fingertips.
This is what makes this city great and I believe our Chapter’s aim is not to distance, alienate or separate us from those different, but rather celebrate where we are unique, by offering an undiluted culture and a distinct identity. As representatives of a nationality that is steeped in accomplishment and rooted in the name of ecumenical advancement, I believe it to be our responsibility to maintain our identity. I believe our culture, artistic and other to be not only worthy of preservation, but more so, in need of continued celebration.
New York City is the capital of art and what better place to bring together and inspire our fellow Italian Americans: the writers, the actors, the singers and musicians the directors and producers; some of which proudly make up The OSIA CENTENNIAL LODGE. Now, we are here to welcome, inspire and support them all. We will give the Italian American artist the voice here in NYC they so well deserve. In closing and in the spirit of Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro, I say: Andiamo sempre avanti. Grazie!
Everyone left the church building and went next door to Xavier School Auditorium where a delightful collation was held. Italian specialties were in abundance, champagne flowed … and everyone had a great time. One of the special members of the lodge, Theresa Sareo entertained us all with her amazing melodious voice and other musical talents. Do yourself a favor and log onto her website at www.theresasareo,com and find out for yourself what a wonderful talent she is … in spite of some tough times she has already faced in her young life. You will be inspired by her story and proud that this lovely young Italian woman has chosen OSIA to be associated with. Bravo Theresa!!!
Well … the Centennial Lodge No. 2828 is well on its way to success! State President Carlo Matteucci appointed Sister Eleanor Jobbagy of the Per Sempre Ladies Lodge No. 2344A as the Deputy to the lodge and as an experienced member of OSIA, we are sure she will be a true confidant and advisor to the Centennial Lodge.
Before closing this article, I must give my sincere heartfelt thanks to New Lodge Chairperson Nicholas Mauro, State Orator Thom Lupo and National 5th VP Joseph DiTrapani for assisting in every aspect of the formation of this lodge. Finally, to Sisters JoAnn Robertozzi and Giulia Prestia … your dream has come true and I am honored and privileged to have been part of that dream. May God bless you and all the members of the Centennial Lodge No. 2828 no matter where life leads them.
Sempre Avanti! Nancy DiFiore Quinn State 1st Vice President State Membership Chairperson
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