Italian Catholic Federation

Ignem Veni Mittere
"I Came to Light a Fire"
 

The Mission Statement in the ICF's Central Council Statutes states:

"The Italian Catholic Federation encourages and promotes faith renewal, apostolic and charitable works, and the preservation of the Italian-American heritage in our communities."

Benvenuti!
"Welcome!"

St. Isidore's Italian Catholic Federation chapter (Branch 266), like all others, is a family oriented, non-profit fraternal and charitable organization -dedicated to promoting activities that build family spirit and bring men and women of all ages together. Activities and events are sponsored in support of the parish and St. Isidore School.

A Short History of the Italian Catholic Federation
(source: ICF Web Site)

In the first decades of the twentieth century, tens of thousands of Italians fled war-torn Europe and settled in San Francisco. Despite of hard-earned successes, many despaired, as they missed their homeland and an essential spirit they had always felt as Italians and as Catholics, a spirit not nurtured in the new land. Church attendance and Catholic observances slowly declined among the immigrants, as did their pride in being Italian. Many simply stopped going to Church or educating their children in the traditions and Faith of their fatherland. Their rich Italian Catholic heritage was at risk of being lost.

1924 two remarkable men formulated the concept of a lay apostolate organization, to unite Italian Catholics in their Faith, community, and pride in shared heritage, in San Francisco. It would be called the Italian Catholic Federation, and the men who envisioned it were ICF co-founders Luigi Providenza and Father Albert Bandini.

In organizing the founding group and seeing the opening of the first ICF branch, Providenza and Bandini saw the initial realization of their goal to "awaken a more intense Christian life among the Italian population in California." The organization, which became the Italian Catholic Federation, was envisioned to be "primarily a parochial society upon which the local pastor could rely on for his work." But it was to become something much more than that. It would encompass a spirit and vitality that over the next seventy five years would grow, at its peak, to 30,000 members in 225 branches in five states, and whose charitable works within and beyond parish boundaries would assist, elevate, enrich, and invigorate the lives of an uncountable number of people.

The Italian Catholic Federation is a 14,000-member organization founded in San Francisco at the Immaculate Conception Church in 1924.

We are Italian in origin, but we gladly welcome persons of non-Italian background, as we feel that our organization has something to offer everyone. We promote heritage through social events, food and music.

We are also a family organization where all members of the family, of all ages, are welcome.
We are a Catholic organization that develops the religious spirit among its members and spreads that spirit throughout the community. As Christians we continue the tradition of love, hospitality, and works of charity as signs of Christ's peace among us. The Italian Catholic Federation is an excellent example of the Laity's participation in the apostolic mission of the Catholic Church.

We are a Catholic organization that promotes the following:

  1. We receive Communion semi-annually as a group.
  2. We support our parish with time and money.
  3. We support parish schools and CCD programs.
  4. We support life, pregnancy services and birthright.
  5. We support Clergy and Seminarians with a yearly contribution for the training of Seminarians.
  6. We donate scholarships to high school students.
  7. We do many other apostolic and charitable works in our community.

The Catholic faith is the foundation of our Federation and the spread of the Faith is its most direct purpose. By our good example, we must devote our efforts toward reaching out in unity and love to our Christian community, as well as to those of use who need to renew our Catholic heritage.

Our dues are modest, and we invite you to join us as we do God's work. The ICF meets at the Parish Hall on the 3rd Sunday at 2 p.m.

ICF Branch 266 Officers ~ 2009

President...Larry Larson

1st Vice President...Yvonne Perry

2nd Vice President...Eugene Moscuzza

Recording Secretary...Yvonne Perry

Financial Secretary...Gene Perry

Treasurer...Lavon Larson

Orator...Edith Moore

Trustee...Tina Moscuzza

Trustee...Frances Lutz

Trustee...Cecilia Low

Sentinel...Art Gibbs

Branch Deputy...Nina Malone

Chaplain...Rev. Thomas Batch

For further information, please contact
Larry Larson through the Rectory at 673-1573.

Click Here For the ICF Calendar for 2009.
 

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