Tag Archives: Laura Ventimiglia

Gloucester Massachusetts and Terrasini Sicily Officially Became Sister Cities Today!

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, at 4pm, Mayor Greg Verga and Mayor Giosuè Maniaci signed certificates naming Gloucester and Terrasini official Sister, or Twin, Cities.  This is a wonderful opportunity to exchange cultural traditions and customs, connect future generations to their heritage, and travel to mutually welcoming communities. Mayor Giosuè Maniaci was admiring of the beauty of Gloucester and the Terrasini community plans to build a memorial similar to our fisherman’s statue, commemorating the lives of fishermen who have been lost at sea.

Nina Francis, Julia Verga, Sefatia Romeo Theken, Giuseppe Cracchiolo, Mayor Greg Verga, Mayor Giosuè Maniaci

Seeing the joy on the participants faces was heartwarming and is a reminder of the blessed and centuries old American tradition of welcoming immigrants to her shores. To know that first, second, and many generations to come, will always be welcome to their country of origin is equally as heartwarming.

Mayor Giosuè Maniac thanking Giuseppe Cracchiolo 

Earlier in the week Mayor Giosuè Maniaci was honored with a lovely dinner of fresh off the boat Gloucester seafood and a presentation by Gloucester Fishermen’a Wives president Angela Sanfillipo. The following photos are courtesy of Marianne Pacquette.

https://vimeo.com/1086954212

Mayor of Terrasini Sicily Meets Mayors of Gloucester (former and current)!

Former Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and current Mayor Greg Verga are hosting a very special guest to our community, Mayor Giosuè Maniaci of Terrasini Sicily.

Having the Mayor of Terrasini to Gloucester has long been a dream of Sefatia’s but because of Covid, plans were put on hold.

The Mayors were given a tour of the State House by staff of Cape Ann’s House of Representative Ann Margaret Ferrante and State Senator Bruce Tarr, each City presenting the other with gifts and citations.

Stay tuned for super exciting news for Gloucester and Terrasini!

A special mass in Italian will be given  by Father Pino Ingrao at Our Lady of Good Voyage on Thursday at 5:30pm

Gloucester author Laura Ventimiglia presents her very special children’s book (that our granddaughter loves!) Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta.

Photos courtesy Marianne Pacquette, Sefatia Romeo Theken,  and Laura Ventimiglia

Check-Out Northshore Magazine’s Fiesta Article, Featuring Interviews with Tom Favazza, Laura Ventimiglia, and Joe Novello

The June/July issue of Northshore Magazine features an article about Fiesta. Written by Gloucester author Sarah Shemkus, extensive background information is provided by Laura Ventimiglia, Joe Novello, and Tom Favazza, with photos provided by Joel Laino, Tom Favazza, and myself.

Northshore Magazine is available to purchase at most CVS and Walgreens on the North Shore. In Gloucester, the current stock is as follows –

• Shaw’s Supermarket at 127 Eastern Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930 with 18 copies available

• Stop & Shop at 6 Thatcher Rd, Gloucester, MA 01930 with 26 copies available

• Walgreens at 201 Main St, Gloucester, MA 01930 with 5 copies available

• Walgreens at 127-135 Eastern Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930 with 6 copies available

You can also subscribe and purchase single copies at the link here.

NONNA, WHAT IS ST. PETER’S FIESTA?

Charlotte LOVES Nonna, What isSt. Peter’s Fiesta?  and we have given it to many of her friends, and they love it ,too <3

Author Laura shares  – Celebrate St. Peter’s Fiesta with your very own copy of Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta? A great book for children and adults. All proceeds benefit St. Peter’s Fiesta, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit. Available at The Bookstore of Gloucester, Main St. Gloucester.

“NONNA, WHAT IS SAINT PETER’S FIESTA” IS BACK IN STOCK AT THE BOOKSTORE OF GLOUCESTER!

Author Laura Ventimiglia shares that “The Bookstore of Gloucester has restocked Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta? Get your copy today & enjoy a piece of Fiesta. Viva!!!! Remember, all proceeds benefit St. Peter’s Fiesta, Inc, a 501c3 nonprofit.”

Charlotte has a new friend who recently moved to Gloucester and we gave her a copy for her birthday. This book is such a great way to explain Saint Peter’s Fiesta to folks old and young that are new to town.

VIRTUAL SAINT PETER’S NOVENA DAY EIGHT

Although St. Peter’s Fiesta has been canceled this year due to the global pandemic, if you would like to pray the novena to St. Peter, Day Eight is now available on YouTube. My friend Patty wrote and said she is finding listening very soothing and I couldn’t agree more. Please share.

The beautiful voices of the novena are Jean Marie Linquata, Ann Sanfillippo, Joanne Aiello, Nina Groppo, Grace Cusumano, Caryn Ryder, and Faye Quinlan

To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at  [https://youtu.be/WVY51yyAWM8]

Photos below of Saint Peter’s Fiesta Sunday morning procession, 2019

Day Seven photos from Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta 2019 Gloucester Stage Production

Day Six photos from the 2019 Friday Opening Ceremony are posted here

Day Five photos from the 2019 Sunday Mass are posted here

Day Four photos from the 2018 novena are posted here

 Day Three photos from the 2019 novena are posted here

 

VIRTUAL SAINT PETER’S NOVENA DAY SEVEN

Although St. Peter’s Fiesta has been canceled this year due to the global pandemic, if you would like to pray the novena to St. Peter, Day Seven is now available on YouTube. My friend Patty wrote and said she is finding listening very soothing and I couldn’t agree more. Please share.

To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at  [https://youtu.be/OusqfWG3bSA]

Photos below from Laura Ventimiglia’s Nonna, What is Saint Peter’s Fiesta? 2019 Gloucester Stage production.

Day Six photos from the 2019 Friday Opening Ceremony are posted here

Day Five photos from the 2019 Sunday Mass are posted here

Day Four photos from the 2018 novena are posted here

 Day Three photos from the 2019 novena are posted here