UPCOMING EVENTS
Westchester Italian Cultural Center
Italian Unification: Cavour, Mazzini, Garibaldi
Friday, September 19, 2014 at 7:00pm
In this lecture, Professor Louis Leonini will take us back in time to examine how Italy was actually unified. He will examine the role of the three major players in the unification, namely Giuseppe Mazzini, Count Camillo di Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. The lecture will seek to discover if these three men worked together to bring about this unification, or, the more controversial view that they did not actually work together, and at times were in open conflict. This raises the question of how in fact did Italian unification take place if these major figures were not working together! Many historians in Italy today, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Italian unity, are debating this issue openly, and this lecture is intended to clarify this debate so that we can understand more fully how the nation of Italy was born, and why this debate continues.
Must register in advance and prepay.
Members $15, Non-Members $25
Using Find a Grave
Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 10:30am
First created to help people visit celebrity graves, Find a Grave has become an invaluable tool to genealogists. With an ever growing database, this amazing site offers you so much more than just a grave site of relatives. You will be amazed to see all of the ways it can help you research your family tree, from dates of birth to a list of relatives. Presented by Toni McKeen
Must register in advance and prepay.
Members $15, Non-Members $20
The Spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi
Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 7:00pm
The monumental figure of San Francesco humbly stands on the front line of the revolution against the corruption of the Church, the government and the people of his times. In his eyes, they were all guilty of excessive material interests and the illicit, avaricious acquisition of political power. Portraying by personal example the most modest lifestyle possible, Francesco, imitator Christi, urged everyone to return to and practice the fundamental Christian principles of Fraternity, Humility, Poverty, Obedience and Chastity. Francesco’s fervent followers spread and practiced the principles of his spiritual mission throughout the world. In the Old World and the New, his spiritual disciples can be found on every continent disseminating the philosophy of the saint. In Latin America, one young man heard the call loud and clear. Albeit a Jesuit, the former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became among the most celebrated followers of il poverello d’Assisi. Better known today as Papa Francesco, the Pope was the first successor of St. Peter to take the name Francis. The spirit of his namesake lives on today in this champion of the poor, a lover of all Creation and a prophet for peace. Come celebrate the Franciscan spirit with Professor Spedaliere as he explores the souls of these two exemplary spiritual revolutionaries.
Must register in advance and prepay.
Members $15, Non-Members $25