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April 26, 2023
Father Robert White honored at opening of Italian Consulate in Springfield
REGIONAL
Staff report
(iObserve photo/Carolee McGrath)
SPRINGFIELD – Stigmatine Father Robert White, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Springfield, was honored at the opening of the Western Massachusetts Consulate of Italy Office at Monarch Place in Springfield, Monday, April 24.
Paul Picknelly, an Italian-American and president and CEO of Monarch Enterprises, donated the space for the office. He is the honorary counsul.
“We are thrilled to be able to present this letter which we decided to write on behalf of the Italian community,” said Arnaldo Minuti, counsel general of Italy in the Boston office, who gave the letter to Father White. He thanked Father White for his dedication to the Italian-American community in Springfield. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish was built by Italian immigrants in 1907.
“Father, I am sure to interpret the sentiment of the Italian-American community here in Springfield and I would like to acknowledge your presence and your service in the last 25 years to the Italian community, helping them, of course in the religious side of the soul, but not only in that part of people’s lives, but in the service,” Minuti said.
The new Italian Consulate will allow residents of western Massachusetts to conduct important personal or business matters in Springfield, rather than traveling to the office in Boston. The office will assist people who need an Italian passport, dual-residency, and birth and death certificates, in addition to assisting with business matters such as tourism and trade.
“The original immigrant community, and now the children and grandchildren of those original immigrants, maintain that relationship with Italy. Many return back there. They visit, they have family relationships. It’s important culturally,” Father White told iObserve.
“Then of course there’s the commercial ties that go along with that. They try to encourage the exchange of business and products between the two countries through the Italian consulate,” said Father White, who addressed the group in Italian. He also led those gathered in prayer in English and Italian.
(iObserve photo/Carolee McGrath)
Mayor Domenic Sarno, the son of Italian immigrants, was also in attendance, along with Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, and several other local political leaders.
“Italian Americans now don’t have to go to Boston if you have dual citizenship,” said Mayor Sarno. He also praised Father White, who will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
“We are so honored Father White has been a spiritual leader in the Italian-American community. For many, many years, he was an advocate for Italian-Americans,” the mayor said.
A Mass and celebration will be held for Father White’s anniversary at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish May 28.
“At one point, the Italians built that church brick by brick,” said Concetta Grimaldi, a eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. She is helping to plan the celebration for Father White.
“Mt. Carmel is a very important part of our lives. It’s family, it’s community,” Grimaldi said.
A reception followed the April 24 opening ceremony. For more information about the Western Massachusetts Consulate of Italy Office , email springfield.onorario@esteri.it.