Dear Readers,
Wishing you Good Health in 2008, so you can enjoy the New Year and our Centennial Celebration! L’Italo-Americano, our Italian English Weekly Newspaper with positive news about our heritage has been publishing weekly from 1908 to 2008, 100 years! The official celebration will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City, California.Details of the event will soon be published by L’Italo-Americano. Mark your 2008 calendar now and plan to join us as we celebrate the historic occasion.
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Honor thy heritage This being January, the first month of the New Year, I want first of all to thank you for your support of the Italian American press either by your advertising or via your subscription to L’Italo-Americano; especially these days when our heritage is being threatened by those who seek to rewrite history at our expense. I feel very strongly that preserving our heritage is the best way to “honor thy father”, mother or grandparents. And one of the best ways is to support our Italian American press enthusiastically.
Encourage friends and family members to subscribe, give L’Italo-Americano subscriptions often as the gift of choice for family members, especially young students. It think it is the height of hypocrisy when the big “Formaggios” (big cheese officers) of Italian American cultural or heritage groups talk about preserving our heritage and then sit on their hands when it comes to writing out the $40 check to subscribe to our Italian American paper. Since our paper is printed weekly, that means 52 issues a year, which figures out to less per issue than a couple of 41 cent postage stamps needed to mail a musical greeting card.
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Back in the days before “motivational” tapes and speakers, most immigrant families had their own “in-house motivational” speakers who practiced their oral craft around the dinner table. We heard how Nonno, Nonna, or our own parents and relatives came to America, courageous people who found their way across the ocean and across a continent often alone, without friends, funds or benefits of a “Traveler’s Aid Society.” These are the people we honor every time we do something that helps to preserve our heritage.
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Happy New Year 2008 and congratulations and best wishes for a healthy and happy life together to newlyweds (Dec. 8 2007) Caterina and Gary Dunn of San Francisco. “Mille Grazie” are also due to an “Adopt-A-Nun” quartet of Salesian sisters, Mary Baroni, Mildred Zanetti, Virginia D’Alessandro and the late Sr. Irene Zaccignino for their daily prayers on Caterina’s behalf. Good things come to those who wait, while the sisters pray…
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Adopt-A-Sister program director, Sr. Mary Rinaldi FMA credits a remark by Fortunato Bosco, born in Italy but a long time resident of Tampa, Florida, with being the spark that ignited the “Adopt-A-Sister” program. His remark was, “Sister, we need your prayers more than you need our money.” Readers who attended the “Famiglia del Sacro Cuore di Gesù” luncheon at Casa Italiana in Los Angeles, California a couple of years ago, may recall meeting Sr. Rinaldi after she was introduced by Marie Martinelli, who has “adopted” many nuns for her family through the years. I first read (1999) the “Adopt-A-Sister” story in People Magazine, (they were also featured in 1995 on 20/20 television program.)
Following is an excerpt from the article on the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, 659 Belmont Ave., North Haledon, NJ 077508-2397, tel. (973)904-0102, in case you would like to “adopt” a Sister for yourself or give a birthday, baby or anniversary gift to friends or family. In 1991, the Missionary Society of Salesian Sisters, dedicated to teaching poor children, found themselves in need. Forty elderly nuns from the order’s North Haledon, NJ branch were desperate for a new dormitory.
But how to come up with $5 million for construction? Sister Mary Rinaldi, FMA figured that bake sales would require the patience of Job (if not the flour power of Pillsbury.) Instead Sr. Rinaldi, who headed up fund raising, rolled out a plan to peddle the nun’s prayers. The “Adopt-A-Sister” program, launched in 1992 (via a toll-free number 1-871-OUR-NUNS), now includes over 3,000 good souls. Each has donated $100 or more a year to “adopt” a member of the order who prays for them, most commonly for good health or other intentions daily.
Many of the pairings have grown to include letters, phone calls, visits and friendships. In some cases, many friendships. One Florida widower adopted 100 nuns. “He was getting 100 birthday cards, 100 Christmas cards,” says Sister Rinaldi. “It gave him life.” And, she adds, “The program has given the nuns a new outlook. They have people to think about, babies to be born, ill to get well.” By 1998 the elderly nuns watched as workers broke ground for their new residence. By 2000 the Sisters had moved in and the program supports the Sister’s Retirement Fund.
Each of the Sisters is like an offering to light a votive candle in church. It burns all day for your special needs while you are busy with other tasks. For more information call toll-free 1-871-OUR-NUNS, or visit them online at www.salesiansisters.org In this day and age when we have personal trainers, personal shoppers, etc. what a great idea to leave the praying of the professionals in 2008….
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Happy New Year and across the miles, via printer’s ink I raise my glass in a toast “Alla tua salute” and hope that you may look forward with optimism to each new day in 2008…
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
