FIAO NEWS By Marianne Peri Sack Comm. Joseph Colagiovanni, Vice Consul of Italy and President of the Federation of Italian American Organizations (FIAO), announced at the October 28 meeting that the organization had a new official website.  This will also be the official website for all Italian organizations in the St. Louis area belong to FIAO.  The Webmaster is Rio Vitale and Colagiovanni stated his appreciation on behalf of FIAO to Vitale for donating his valuable time and expertise to this project.   As for the other FIAO programs, it was reported that the continuing success of the Italian Language Program has resulted in current enrollment of 125 students in four different levels including children’s classes. This program is operated in conjunction with the Italian government and subsidized by it.  The annual Young Artist Competition enjoyed an unprecedented success last April.   A database consisting of members of the various Italian organizations and other possibly interested parties is being developed by Michael Lombardo who is working with Rio Vitale.  Any recent name or address changes should sent to Michael Lombardo at mjlombardo@msn.com or changes can be registered on the website www.fiao-stl.org.  This will enable FIAO maintain the accuracy of the database.      MISERICORDIA SOCIETY HONORS FATHER LEO SPEZIA By Marianne Peri Sack The Misericordia Society honored Father Leo Spezia with honorary membership at its 84th anniversary dinner-dance on Sunday, October 24, at Spazio’s Westport.  Father is the associate pastor of St. John the Baptist and the Dean of St. John the Baptist High School. He is very well known in the St. Louis community for his service to the Italian community.  He is a quiet, pious and humble man.  No one would guess the countless ways in which he has found to not only serve God but also his country.  Proud of his Italian Heritage, he joined the Fratellanza Society shortly after his ordination and became its Chaplain.  He is also the chaplain of the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO. Father Spezia has founded various Chaplaincy departments and has trained over 100 chaplains for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State of Missouri.  He is currently the main Chaplain of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the main Chaplain for the St. Louis County Police Department, the chaplain for the local St. Louis Troop C, chaplain for the St. Louis County Municipal Fire Academy, chaplain for the City of Vinita Park and the City of Charlack.  As the Chaplain of the St. Louis Department of the FBI, he also works for the Bureau out of Washington, DC.  Since he is also the Chaplain of the St. Louis Rams football team, he had to be in Florida the day of the Misericordia Dinner Dance to say Mass before the game.  It was very difficult but he made it back on time to attend the event honoring him. After the disasters of the Oklahoma City bombing, the TWA Flight 800 crash, and the Amtrak crash in Atlanta, he was called upon to help in the comfort of victims as well as police and fire personal.  Shortly after September 11, he had the heartbreaking task of serving at Ground Zero four times.  In the past few years, he has also been called to serve at destinations that could not be disclosed.  He does all this work and still finds time to attend meetings and give invocations for the Italian organizations when called upon.    At the 2003 UNICO National Convention in San Antonio, Texas, Father was given the prestigious Americanism Award for his exemplary work.  Father Leo gave each person at the convention a pin with a cross on one side and the flag on the other side.  This pin is very symbolic of a man to whom the phrase, “For God and Country” is his way of life.              The society presented Father Leo with a plaque and made a donation to St. John the Baptist High School in his honor on the occasion.  The money will be used to help defray the cost of tuition for a student. Jim Tognoni acted as Master of Ceremonies and Joe Tucci and Son provided the music.   WHAT’S  HAPPENING By Marianne Peri Sack Buon Compleanno  to Josephine Gerdes – November 6; Joan Aiazzi – November 18;Crucie Pagano – November 25;   Zina Gallo – November 30; Sabrina Ogle – November 23; Josephine Lombardo – December 1. ANNIVERSARIES Mark and Joan Aiazzi celebrated on November 8. ENGAGEMENTS Paola Orlando and Michael Miget recently announced their engagement.  She is the daughter of Frank and Josephine Orlando and is a former Miss Italian St. Louis.  The couple is planning their wedding on November 12, 2005. WEDDINGS Terry and Giuseppe Orlando were married on May 5 in Cancun, Mexico.  Giuseppe is the son of Frank and Josephine Orlando.  The couple is currently residing in St. Charles County.     NIAF SPONSORS PROGRAMS IN CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH By Marianne Peri Sack The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) marked the 28TH anniversary of the designation of October as Italian American Heritage Month by sponsoring two programs in St. Louis.  The proclamation was made in 1976 by then President Jimmy Carter. Highlighting the contributions and history of Italian Americans in St. Louis, the two programs consisted of an Italian Language Program and a Walking Tour of the Hill. The language program was a four-week beginning conversation course that was held at Southwest Bank on S. Kingshighway and Southwest Avenues.  Classes were taught by Giovanna Leopardi. On the last day of class, the students celebrated with a red, white and green sheet cake with NIAF and the word “Auguri” written on it, courtesy of Ed Berra and Southwest Bank.   NIAF began sponsoring language programs celebrating Italian Heritage Month last year in Boston, Washington, DC, San Francisco, New York and Chicago.  This year St. Louis and Philadelphia were added to the program.         A Walking Tour of the Hill was conducted on October 30, which began at St. Ambrose’s Church.  The highlight of the tour was a very informative lecture by Monsignor Sal Polizzi at the church.   Monsignor was a former associate pastor of St. Ambrose and is currently pastor of St. Roch’s Church. Both programs were free of charge to the participants. FIAO EXHIBITS ITALIAN CULTURAL ARTIFACTS AT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE’S 85TH ANNIVERSARY By Marianne Peri Sack The International Institute of St. Louis celebrated its 85th anniversary on Saturday, November 20, with a festival of nations at its facilities on South Grand.  Various nationalities were invited to share their culture with the community in the form of a performance, a cultural display or a craft demonstration.  A large variety of ethnic food was provided by the different nationalities giving those in attendance a quick but savory trip around the world.   The Federation of Italian American Organizations in St. Louis sponsored an exhibit of three tables that included festive Venetian masks, a large Sicilian cart, fancy bonbomerie (favors that are given mostly at weddings containing confetti (sugar-covered almond candy) several Pinocchio puppets, several La Befanas, Murano glass jewelry, magnificent cut- work, embroidery work, and crocheted pieces, a large Holy Family picture crafted in silver, a Della Robbia plaque and a Fontanini Nativity Set.  Some of the linens dated back more than 75 years. The Institute was where many Italian immigrants went to learn English, get assistance in finding a job or housing and to socialize.  The Institute held dances and some pictures at the memorabilia table were from the 50s, showing members of the Italian community in their early days in this country.  Today the Institute is still working hard to assist the new wave of immigrants in our community make an easier transition to the American way of life.    ITALIAN SAILOR BURIED BY FRATELLANZA DURING 1904 WORLD’S FAIR By Marianne Peri Sack It was 100 years ago and the city of St. Louis had a magical name throughout the world.  It was the location of the Centennial of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, better known as the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.  Fairgoers were to marvel, as the future was unveiled before them in the form of electric lights, various modern machinery, a giant Ferris wheel and other wonders of the marvelous new industrial age.  All eyes were on us, as countries sent exhibits to our fair city. Artworks, ethnic food, colorful costumes, towering edifices and strange animals filled the fairgrounds, transforming it into a magical land that would make today’s Disney World pale in comparison.         On February 20, 1904, an Italian sailor named Luigi Donati left Genoa on the SS Nord America and arrived in New York’s Ellis Island on March 17, 1904.  He was one of the 17 sailors chosen to be sent to the World’s Fair by the government of Italy.  The original ship’s manifest referred to the group as “sailors” but the word was scratched out and the word “marines” written to replace it. Luigi Donati died April 2, 1904 of meningitis more than 5,000 miles from his home in Italy.  Sadly, he had no family in America; so the Fratellanza Society buried him in its burial plot on April 4, 1904, in Calvary Cemetery, Section 17, Lot 222. Later the Society received a letter from Italy’s Comm. Generale G. Branchi thanking the Fratellanza for the burial of this Italian.  To this day, the Fratellanza tends the grave of Luigi Donati and others buried in the Society’s plot.         My thanks to Fratellanza Historian Bob Hawkins who took this picture and supplied me with the data for this article.   CLUBS CELEBRATE FESTA DI MORTI (ALL SOULS DAY) By Marianne Peri Sack The Misericordia Society and the Sicilian Cultural Association celebrated All Souls Day with an old tradition of Pupi di Zucchero (Sugar Dolls) at their respective November meetings.  The holy day on November 2 is used as a day to remember and pray for those that have passed away, particularly our loved ones.  The bond between family members in the Italian culture is very strong like a chain of life linking each generation to the other. The link is demonstrated in the deepest way on this holy day when as children, we were given gifts and told that they were from a beloved nonno (grandfather), zia (aunt) or other loved one.  The most popular gifts were marzipan fruit and magnificent sugar dolls made in various forms, such as a doll, a policeman, a horse, a harlequin jester, an animal, etc.   Other gifts included dried figs, red pomegranates, almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, torrone and other candy.   The night before All Souls Day, a child would sometimes put his shoes out for the morti (dead) to fill with treats.  The feast of All Souls was spent visiting the cemetery, putting flowers on graves and praying for the dead. ST. AMBROSE OPENS CHURCH LIBRARY By Marianne Peri Sack St. Ambrose Church, acting on an idea from Laura Law, Parish Nurse, has opened a church library.  An open house was held at the rectory on November 21 from 9:00 am to 12.30 p.m. where they served coffee and donuts to the many people who visited the library that is located in the rectory. Parishioner Dorotea Rossomanno-Phillips is a former librarian and is organizing the new library for St. Ambrose. Sam Gianino is assisting her with signing making, cataloging and other tasks.  The project is in need of book donations, in Italian or English, with subject matter either religious or Italian related, such an Italian-English dictionary, bible, prayer books, history of the church, biographies of saints or other religious topics.  Contributions for the video and audio section are also needed and monetary donations are being accepted.   Please bring donations to the rectory during business hours.  Monetary gifts may be placed in an envelope marked “Donations Church library” and placed in the Sunday collection basket.   If you have any questions, please contact Dorotea Rossomanno-Phillips at 314-535-9748.    SISTERS MASCARI, CASAGRANDE, GENTILE DIE By Marianne Peri Sack Three Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who served in St. Louis died recently in Connecticut. There are Sister Teresita Mascari, Clelia Casagrande and Mary Carol Gentile.   Sister Teresita, a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, lived in St. Louis as a young woman and entered the convent in 1935 in New Haven, Connecticut.  In St. Louis, she served as a dietician from 1966 to 1989 at the Sacred Heart Villa.   Sister also taught school, did parish work, cared for orphans, worked at a nursery school and at an adult center in various locations including, California, Rhode Island, Chicago, New York Pennsylvania and Connecticut before her retirement in 1992.  She was 93-years-old and died October 28 at Sacred Heart Manor in Hamden, Connecticut.  Her funeral mass was held on November 1 at the Manor. Sister Clelia was a native of Italy and came to St. Louis as a child.  She entered the convent in New Haven in 1931 and served in St. Louis as principal and teacher at Our Lady Help of Christians School from 1933 to 1947 and served as principal of St. Ambrose School from 1978 to 1981.  Sister also served as principal and teacher at schools in Kansas City, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York and Florida and was a receptionist at Mount Sacred Heart Provinclialate from 1981 until her retirement in 2000.  She was 92-years-old and died October 26 at Sacred Heart Manor in Hamden, Connecticut.  Her funeral mass was held on October 28 at the Manor. Sister Mary Carol was a native of New Haven and entered the convent in 1963 in Hamden. She served as a teacher at St. Ambrose from 1968 to 1972, at Our Lady of Good Counsel School from 1972 to 1978 and at Cor Jesu Academy from 1981 to 1986.  She also taught at schools in New York, California, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.  Sister was principal at two schools in Rhode Island and under her guidance one of these schools was designated a Blue Ribbon School by the U. S. Department of Education. She is the author of several published articles on Catholic education and was honored by the National Catholic Educational Association.  She was only 58-year-old and died October 1 at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, Connecticut.  Her funerals mass was celebrated on October 4 at Sacred Heart Manor. Many in St. Louis will remember the good sisters and their service to God and the St. Louis community.             PBM HOLDS KICKOFF MEETING FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND By Marianne Peri Sack The Professional And Business Men’s Club of the Hill  (PBM) held its annual kickoff meeting on November 3 for the 2005 Joe Tangaro Ambassador’s Scholarship Fund drive.  The organization has raffle tickets for a $10.00 donation enabling a person to be eligible for 12 chances  (one each month) to win $500.00.  The proceeds go to provide scholarships for qualified students from the “Hill” area.  Since its beginning, PBM has given more than $530,000 to these hard-working, worthy students.  PBM’s assistance to the young people of the Hill has rightfully earned them the title of “The Helping Hand of the Hill.” Call Bea Hanrahan at 647-0448 or Ted Vollmer at 771-2676 for tickets. SECOND ANNUAL HILL NATIVITY WALK By Marianne Peri Sack A display of Italian and Italian-style nativity sets can be viewed December 1, 2004, through January 2, 2005, at the storefronts of Hill merchants primarily along Marconi, Shaw and Edwards Avenues.  The display offers 25 presepi (nativity sets) and some highlights of this Hill Nativity Walk are a set from Naples, one in terracotta from Caltagirone, Sicily, and a papier-mâché set from Lecce, Puglia.   Brochures can be found at participating stores, including Missouri Baking, Vitale’s Bakery, John Viviano & Sons and Girasole Gifts and Imports.  There will be guided tours on Saturdays, December 4, 11 and 18 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p. m. that will begin at the Immigrant Statue at the corner of Marconi and Wilson Avenues.  The event is free, open to the public and sponsored jointly by the Italian Club of St. Louis and the Hill Business Association.   For more information, call Barbara Klein at 314-422-3102.