By TAMI QUIGLEY Staff writer
The City of Bethlehem marked a special day Sept. 29, as the official dedication ceremony took place linking the city and the town of Foiano di Val Fortore, Italy as “sister cities.”
Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez and Foiano di Val Fortore Mayor Michelantonio Maffeo participated in the day, which began with a 10 a.m. flag raising ceremony on Payrow Plaza, followed by a ceremony inside Town Hall.
The festive occasion continued at Holy Ghost, Bethlehem, where Bishop Alfred Schlert celebrated a 4 p.m. Mass. Father David Kozak is administrator of Holy Ghost.
The day celebrated the unique bond between the towns, which dates back more than 100 years.
Bethlehem’s relationship with Foiano di Val Fortore goes back over 100 years. The original immigrants arrived seeking economic opportunities. They immediately organized and built a church in 1902, and eventually a social hall, settling in neighborhoods of South Bethlehem.
Although many Foianese found work at Bethlehem Steel, others toiled in the knitting factories and in cigar manufacturing, and others plied their trades as stone masons, in shoe repair, etc.
They formed a Society of St. Peter, where in addition to satisfying social needs, the Foianese received advice on how to assimilate into American life. They also made important contacts so they could borrow money, which helped to start businesses and build homes.
The Foianese were so concerned with “fitting in” that within a generation and a half, they began moving to other sections of the city. Their children became proficient English speakers, and a college education was soon attainable for the next generation, born here.
Today a very large percentage of Bethlehem area residents with Italian surnames can trace their heritage not only to Italy, and specifically to the tiny village called Foiano di Val Fortore.
This symbolic joining of the two towns was a long time coming. The connection is so close and so direct that citizens in both towns have fully embraced this idea of Sister City cooperation.
It is Bethlehem’s hope that from the seeds planted this day, the door will be opened to even more conversations, visits and true cultural appreciation.
A magnificent new replacement statue of St. John the Hermit, dedicated that day by Bishop Schlert, is on display at Holy Ghost.
The statue represents the culture, beliefs and faith of the original immigrants, but also stands for the reconnection made possible through the cooperation between the third generation of these pioneers.
The plaque, to be placed on a wall near the statue will read: “San Giovanni Eremita (Saint John the Hermit), Dedicated on Saturday, September 2018 by His Excellency Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown Pennsylvania.
“The hermit Giovanni da Tufara (1084-1170) was born, raised and buried in the Fortore Valley in Italy. He was founder and first prior of the Monastery of S. Maria de Gualdo Mazocca. Pope Hadrian IV chose him to found this Monastery. Giovanni’s Monastery is credited with bringing civilization to the Fortore Valley, including the village of Foiano di Val Fortore.
“He was held in high esteem by the inhabitants of this area and became their patron saint. When the original immigrants came to America in the early 20th century, they brought with them their annual celebration of his feast day. The original statue was displayed in the Our Lady of Pompeii Church. When the original statue went missing and the Our Lady of Pompeii Church closed, a group of current Foianese commissioned the creation of this replica statue.
“Today we sincerely thank the people of Foiano for their kind gift. Our gratitude extends to Father David Kozak, Ronald J. Koach, Pastoral Assistant and the parishioners of Holy Ghost Church for displaying the statue and to the dozens of people here in our community who raised money to pay for the shipping of the statue to America.
“Special thanks to Honorable Robert J. Donchez, Mayor of Bethlehem; the Honorable Dr. Michelantonio Maffeo, Mayor of Foiano di Val Fortore; Dr. Giuseppe Ruggiero, and Mrs. Maria DelGrosso Dangelmajer, Mr. Frank V. Facchiano and Mr. Mark C. Iampietro.”
