And Now, The Moment Is Upon Us . . .

 

Christie Speaks Out On Ukraine, Hunter Scandal

Some Solid Advice As New Week Begins!

Italian-Americans United To Preserve, Advance Identity!

A Culture in the Balance: Italian American Leaders Turn Vision into Action with Landmark Trip to Italy

A 32-person Italian American delegation, assembled by COPOMIAO President Basil M. Russo, will visit Rome in May to meet with Italy’s top leaders, dignitaries, and Pope Francis — all to deepen our prominence, influence, and cultural roots.    The journey to elevate the visibility and influence of Italian Americans in our society began for me in early 2021, after I was elected to lead the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO). Still mired in the pandemic at that time, it all felt like a darkening dream: toppled Columbus statues, renamed holidays, canceled feast day celebrations, the loss of loved ones and the end of many Italian American shops and eateries. Covid also applied further strain to longstanding issues in our community, i.e., a growing generational divide between old and young, fading traditions and an absence of national unity. It all needed to change.    Our Culture on the Line   In the late 1800s and the early 1900s, many of our ancestors fled southern Italy to escape famine, disease, natural disasters and crushing poverty. The journey was hellish, and our culturally formative years in America were marred by violence and suppression that included some 50 lynchings of Italian immigrants. Our ancestors persevered, but over the last 40 years, with each passing generation, we’ve watched our heritage and our history gradually slip away. With that in mind, I knew 2021 would need to be a transformative year, I knew it would take all of us to regain our cultural footing, and I now know that our recent initiatives have sparked a revival within our community that our forebears would be proud of.     The International Stage My fellow presidents and I turned COPOMIAO — a relatively inactive 36-member East Coast umbrella organization — into a bustling, 54-member national nonprofit. Next, we organized three virtual National Summit Meetings that brought more than 400 Italian American organizations to the table. From there we created national committees comprised of hundreds of diligent Italian American volunteers to address issues of mutual concern. Since then, we have saved several Columbus monuments, we’re currently organizing a robust youth summit in Florida this October, and we’re working with dignitaries and leaders across the Italian Republic to cement COPOMIAO’s international prominence.    This diplomatic collaboration was launched in December when Mariangela Zappia, Italy’s first female ambassador to the U.S., agreed to my request to host a reception for 55 of our national leaders at her residence in Washington DC.  During that meeting we struck a landmark partnership to strengthen cultural relations, foster new trade, and bolster advocacy-related initiatives.   A Giant Leap for Italian America   We are now building upon this strategic relationship by taking a delegation of 32 Italian American representatives overseas to meet with political leaders in Rome and at the Vatican.  We leave in mid-May, and our itinerary includes meetings with the Deputy of Foreign Affairs for the Italian Republic, Representatives of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies, Justices of the Italian Supreme Court, as well as a meeting with the Vatican's Secretary of State, and a Papal audience.     Ultimately, the goal is to imagine what progress looks like next year, in five years, in a decade. Our ancestors taught us to aspire, and now’s the time to put their principled and faithful vision into action.  By working together, we can amplify our collective voice, and assume a more important role in influencing our country’s collective culture — all while strengthening ties to Italia and to our Church.  Italian Americans have always made great contributions throughout history, and we need to ensure that we are in a strong position to continue to do so moving forward. Our ambitious planning and unified approach will give us the momentum to reach this goal. We’ll give a detailed report on all the developments related to our historic international trip in a special e-newsletter within the next few weeks. Thank you to all who are attending this historic trip, and a special thank you to the thousands who are standing behind this effort.

Respectfully, Basil M. Russo  President Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations

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Reconnecting with Our Youth Committee John Viola, Co-Chair Stephanie Longo, Co-Chair   Charitable Activities Committee Frank DeFrank, Co-Chair Joseph Sciame, Co-Chair   Museums and Cultural Institutions Committee Joseph Scelsa, Chair Marianna Gatto, Co-Chair Frank Maselli, Co-Chair Gina Biancardi, Co-Chair   Italian Language Committee Berardo Paradiso, Chair Save Columbus Committee Robert Ferrito, Chair Frank Lorenzo, Co-Chair Mary Kovach, Co-Chair Tom Damigella, Co-Chair  Sub-Committee Co-Chairs: Robert Petrone William Cerruti Angelo Vivolo John Fratta Donna DeSanctis Charles Marsala Robert M. Ferrito Andre Dimino Frank Lorenzo Mike Santo Public Policy William Cerruti, Co-Chair Aileen Sirey-Riotto, Co-Chair

Case Ya Didn't Know, This Is How It's Done!

 

Video: Learn A Second Language INSTANTLY!

 

Cherry Hill's Blossoms In Full Bloom RIGHT NOW!

 Don't delay . . . see this spectacle NOW!

The Cherry blossoms are in vivid bloom along Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill, N. J.

Get on over to Chapel Avenue this week or you'll miss them.
And, trust me, you don't want to miss this!

Along a dazzling two mile stretch from Haddonfield Road to Kings Highway the blossoms create bright ribbons of pink. Through the day the color varies slightly as the sun and the clouds help to create a feast for the eyes. And the blossoms vary somewhat by shading and color depending upon whether you are moving east or west along Chapel Avenue.

Walking under the blossoms along the sidewalk on either side of the street is a sensual delight.

But this incredible show only lasts for a week or two so you must hurry if you want to see some of the most magnificent clustered blossoms anywhere.
The blossoms were the brainchild of Joe Zanghi, a visionary Cherry Hill resident who began planting them (along with dozens of volunteers, most notably Cherry Hill firefighters) decades ago. They are a true labor of love by public-spirited citizens -- a gift to the entire community and the region.
These are huge, fancy, clustered blossoms.

Drive slowly, cycle or walk under the blossoms and soak up every magical moment!

You Won't Wanna Miss This One!

The movie opens in select theaters and will stream soon!

Remembering Senator Orrin Hatch, A Patriot . . .

- April 23, 2022 -

Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President  of the United States of America

I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the great Senator Orrin Hatch, his wife Elaine, and his six children. Orrin was a true warrior for our Country, for liberty, and for his beloved state of Utah. He was as wise as he was kind, and as tough as he was smart—he loved America and his contributions to our Country were tremendous. His legacy will surely live on through the many lives he impacted. May God bless Orrin Hatch.

A Beautiful Statement By And For Kids!

The Archdiocesan Office for Child and Youth Protection (OCYP) will partner with Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School in Maple Glen (Montgomery County) to host the Archdiocesan 2022 Blue Pinwheel Awareness Garden. 

The garden is being planted in observance of “National Child Abuse Prevention Month,” which is commemorated annually during the month of April. The garden is part of a national movement, “Pinwheels for Prevention.” It is as a grass roots initiative sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse America. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Saint Alphonsus Church 

33 Conwell Drive

Maple Glen, PA 19002 (Montgomery County)

Portions of the event will be live streamed from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools Facebook page @ AOPSschools.

Approximately 460 students in grades Pre-K through 8 will work collaboratively with school faculty and administration as well as OCYP staff to plant 500 pinwheels. Monsignor Brian Hennessy, Pastor of Saint Alphonsus Parish; Monsignor Stephen McHenry, Pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Ambler (Montgomery County); Father Joseph Rymdeika, Pastor, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Horsham (Montgomery County); Ms. Leslie Davila, Director of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Child and Youth Protection; Andrew McLaughlin, Ed.D. Secretary for Elementary Education; and Mrs. Marianne Finnegan, Principal, Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School will be in attendance. 

Monsignor Hennessy will lead the OLM school community in prayer followed by brief remarks from Ms. Davila. OLM students will then walk from inside the Church outside to the statue of the Holy Family. 

Monsignor Hennessy, Monsignor McHenry, Father Rymdeika, Ms. Davila, Mrs. Finnegan, and Dr. McLaughlin will plant the first six pinwheels and the student body will plant the remainder. Following the planting of the pinwheel garden, Ms. Davila and OCYP staff members will visit classrooms with the pastors, principal and administrators from the Office of Catholic Education. 

In addition to Pinwheels for Prevention, OCYP sponsored a number of events and activities during the month of April including the observance of Blue Sunday (April 24) and Blue Monday (April 25). For more information about OCYP, please visit childyouthprotection.org/. 

Background on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Child and Youth Protection

The Archdiocesan Office for Child and Youth Protection is comprised of caring professionals whose purpose is to support the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s commitment to create and maintain safe environments for the children who attend its churches, schools, and programs. Provide compassionate and supportive assistance to individuals who have been the victims/survivors of child sexual abuse and their family members.

The Archdiocesan schools and parish religious education programs offer age-appropriate child abuse prevention and technology safety instruction annually. During the 2020-2021 school year, 93,814 students in our Elementary, Secondary and Parish Religious Education program received Child Abuse prevention lessons. In addition, in 2020-2021, 1,902 adults where trained how to recognize and report abuse as mandated reporters.

OCYP takes its direction from The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. 

Note: For more information on the work and resources offered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Child & Youth Protection, please visit childyouthprotection.org/. For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School, please visit www.olmrcs.com/.