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Italian Catholic Federation

St. Joseph Table 2022
Food drive for the poor
March 19-20 after all Masses
 

This year our celebration of the St. Joseph Table will align with its traditional meaning.  According to tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, the St. Joseph altar is dedicated to the hungry poor. It began during a severe drought and famine in Sicily. The people prayed for rain and made a promise to feed the hungry in the name of the saint.  The altar for the feast of St. Joseph, filled with every good thing, became a popular Italian Catholic celebration, honored at OLA for many years.

 

Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) invites you to donate non-perishable food or cash donations. 

General Information

The ICF is a family-oriented group that encourages the sharing and celebration of different cultures… you don’t have to be Italian! OLA’s Branch 319 is proud of its service to our pastor, parish, school, and local community.

For more about ICF please feel free to join us at our monthly meeting on the third Friday of the month (auditorium 6:30 pm). Join us for community spirit and fun times. All are welcome!

Purpose and goals of Branch 319 of the I.C.F.
This is an organization founded on the principles of charity, apostolic works, and a commitment to preserving Italian heritage. The Italian Catholic Federation is a family-oriented, non-profit, organization dedicated to promoting activities that build family spirit and bring men and women of all ages together. Members do not have to be of Italian descent. By joining our local branch, ICF members share their culture and religious beliefs.  I.C.F. is proud of its assistance to the parish, pastor, and local communities.  They believe that together they can accomplish more than one can alone.

Membership/Requirements
Membership is available to all Catholics. Many members are not of Italian descent but share the ideals of ICF and respect the Italian heritage of its founders. Annual dues ($35) include monthly Bollettino. No training necessary and no age limit.
 
Our ministry supports
  • The Beta Center
  • St. Vincent De Paul
  • The School of Fashion & Design for the developmentally disabled
  • Cooley’s Anemia Research
  • USO Center
  • Disaster Support
  • Student Scholarships
  • Seminarian Support

History
The ICF was established in 1924 in San Francisco, California. Its co-founders Luigi Providenza born in Genoa, Italy and at the age of 26 immigrated to San Francisco and the Rev. Albert Bandini son of an influential Florentine family was a scholar, poet, and an  attorney  who came from New York to help his fellow  Italians.  Today, the ICF reaches out to all Catholics, sharing our faith and heritage with them. The founders had a dream and with branches located throughout California, Illinois, Nevada and Arizona the ICF is keeping their dream alive. The OLA Branch 319 was established at OLA on June 27, 1976.

Contact
Branch President Andrea Linn at (909) 762-1392
 

Timeline of important I.C.F. events will resume when Covid-restrictions are lifted:


Monthly meetings on the third Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the OLA auditorium or at a local restaurant for fundraising purposes.
 
March. - St.  Joseph’s Table: A traditional St. Joseph’s Table celebrates the arrival of spring at Our Lady of the Assumption Auditorium. Fresh cannoli, Italian pastries, cakes, breads, pies and other Easter treats will be available for purchase. The ICF demonstrates how to make pizzelles and sfinges.

 

September - Annual Spaghetti Dinner served in the OLA Auditorium, from noon to 5 p.m. including carry-out: $12 adults and $6 children (5-10 years) or at the door. Event includes raffle of $500 gift basket and the popular "money hat"
 
USO Collection on Memorial Day, July Fourth and Veterans Day - For military personnel traveling through Ontario Airport. Donate cash or items to sustain them on their travels: Water bottles or brand-name sodas, paper goods, individual size snacks, chewing gum or mints, disposable razors, toothbrushes, lotions or shampoos, disinfectant wipes, new books or magazines, travel games, Costco gift cards. (No homemade or perishable food, hotel toiletries, used books or past expiration.)
 
June - Family Picnic in June: Come enjoy a picnic with free barbecue lunch and games for all ages, including a jumper for children and Italian bocci ball for adults... on the green after all morning Masses at OLA.
 
November - Bishop's Day Banquet at 5:30 p.m. St. Denis Church in Diamond Bar, including presentation of donations to support seminarians.
 
November - I.C.F. Branch 319 gathers to wrap gifts for the annual Christmas party in Los Angeles for patients with thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder.
 
December - I.C.F. members make their annual pilgrimage to the shrine dedicated to Mother Cabrini, an Italian-american saint. All parishioners are welcome to join this trip. Carpools will leave OLA before noon to arrive for a procession, Eucharistic Adoration and an outdoor Mass at 12:30 p.m. and lunch at 2 p.m. There is also a chapel and library honoring the saint. For details, contact Andrea Linn. at (909) 762-1392.
 
December - ICF Christmas Party at OLA