Below is a press release from the Wilmington Sons & Daughters of Italy:
WILMINGTON, MA — Several members of the Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge of Wilmington, Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), attended the 111th Annual Convention in Springfield, MA, at the Sheraton Monarch Place Hotel from June 19-22, 2025.
The OSDIA is the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. Founded in 1905 as a mutual aid society for early Italian immigrants, today OSDIA has thousands of family members located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, making it the leading service and advocacy organization for the nation’s estimated 26 million people of Italian descent. The Order’s missions include encouraging the study of Italian language and culture in American schools and universities; preserving Italian American traditions, culture, history and heritage; and promoting closer cultural relations between the United States and Italy.
The Wilmington Lodge, officially known as the Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge, after Pope John XXIII, is one of the premier fraternal and charitable organizations in the state, having donated generously to statewide groups such as Alzheimer’s, Cooley’s Anemia, and the Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism. The Town of Wilmington has been the biggest beneficiary of this local lodge’s charitable donations. Notable contributions include, but are not limited to: scholarships, uniforms for all varsity high school teams, North Intermediate and Woburn Street School playgrounds, jackets and parade uniforms for WHS marching band, handicapped-accessible van and a BINGO board for the senior center, town common’s Welcome to Wilmington sign, the repair of the town gazebo and the Pavilion at Yentile Recreational Facility.
The Wilmington Lodge meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Methodist Church and welcomes new members, who need not be of Italian descent. For further information, contact President John Romano at 978-988-8045.
Pictured below are Delegates who attended the 111st Convention from Wilmington: National 2nd Vice President Kevin Caira, Cheryl Caira, Betty Sandquist, Alicia Johnson, Lynne Martell, Joe Martell and Julie Sbraccia-Manos.
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