History

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge #2183

On March 12, 1967, the Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge #2183 of Wilmington, Massachusetts, was founded. The designated founders of the lodge were Laura Caira, Frances Gray, and George Murray. The new lodge emanated from a series of house meetings culminated by a meeting at the Wilmington Skating Club. The meeting was attended by Joseph Gorrassi, Former Supreme and Grand Venerable; Sophie Gorrassi, Grand Recording Secretary; and Mary Benullo, Grand Deputy. At this meeting, a slate of officers was formulated and after a number of names submitted for the lodge, the name Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) was determined at the suggestion of sister Anna Visconti.

The first Council of the Wilmington Lodge included:
Venerable Charles Ingalls; Assistant Venerable Donald Ugolini; Ex-Venerable George Murray; Orator Vincent Capozzi; Recording Secretary Laura Caira; Financial Secretary Frances Gray; Treasurer Anthony Fortunata; Trustees Gus Cuoco, Marguerite Ingalls, Alfred Powers, Nicholas Casaletto, and Cynthia Esposito; Mistresses of Ceremonies Sylvia Fantasia and Anna Visconti; and Sentinel William Wolley. We had 94 members at the formation of our lodge. The installation and institution ceremonies were held at the Tewksbury Knights of Columbus Hall and conducted by Grand Venerable John Guarino and Grand Orator Aldo Caira.

After meeting for many years at the Grange Hall, the dream of owning our own lodge became a reality in 1976. Through the efforts of members of our Building Trust: Rico Calano, Vincent Puma, Bob Dicey, Aldo Caira, Michael Caira, Jim Capozzi, Rocco DePasquale, Chris S. DiCecca, Fred Miller, and Jim Rando, a state-of-the-art lodge home was built on Ballardvale Street. After many years of enjoying memorable events, the lodge was sold in 1996. Now monthly meetings are held at the Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, every fourth Thursday at 7:30 p.m. A social hour, including a light dinner and dessert, is enjoyed by members an hour before the meeting begins.

Our lodge has been blessed with committed and dedicated leadership since its inception:
Charles Ingalls (67-68); Don Ugolini (68-69); Al Powers (69-71); Eileen Wolley (71); Rico Catalano (71-73); Fred Miller (73-75, 77-79); Chris S. DiCecca (75-77); Bob Dicey (79-81); Fortune Carlino (81-83); Chris A. DiCecca (83-85); Peg Dicey (85-86); Jerry Pupa (86-88, 03-05); Kevin Caira (88-92, 96-98); Charlie DeStefano (92-96, 02-03, 07-10, 15-17); Michele Caira Nortonen (98-02); Aldo Caira Jr. (05-07, 10-15);

President John Romano (17-19, 19-21, 23 -25), Susan Connors (21-23).

We are very proud that several of our members have attained leadership positions at the State and/or National levels:

Aldo A. Caira: Grand Trustee, Grand Orator, Grand Venerable, National 2nd Vice President, National 1st Vice President, National President.
Michael A. Caira: Grand Trustee, Chairman National Deputies, National Executive Director.
Kevin A. Caira: Chairman Membership Commission, Chairman State Deputies, State Trustee, State Treasurer, State 2nd Vice President, State 1st Vice President, State President, National 2nd Vice President, President National Commission for Social Justice.
Michele Caira Nortonen: State Deputy, State Trustee, State 2nd Vice President.
Charles DeStefano: State Trustee, President Junior Division.
Aldo A. Caira, Jr.: President Junior Division, Chairman Sports Commission.
Patricia Provenzano: Chairman Scholarship Commission.
John DiFava: Chairman Commission for Social Justice.
Angela Caira: President Junior Division.
Robert “Ted” Tomasone: Chairman Commission for Social Justice.

The Wilmington Sons of Italy Lodge has been lauded by the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee for its community service, involvement, and generosity. Though it has been a major contributor to charities since 1967, since the sale of our building in 1996, we can account for 1.6 million dollars in contributions to various charities and community activities and fundraisers. Little could our founders have imagined fifty years ago that their lodge would become one of the most respected charitable and fraternal organizations in the state. Noteworthy accomplishments include:

Scholarships awarded annually to children of lodge members;
Significant annual donations to pet charities of The Order Sons of Italy in America, Massachusetts Grand Lodge: Alzheimer’s, Cooley’s Anemia, Autism, Madonna Queen National Shrine, Don Orione Home for the Aged, Italian Home for Children, Boys Town of Italy, March of Dimes, United Cerebral Palsy, Jimmy Fund, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Disaster Relief Fund, Statue of Liberty Foundation, Catholic Charities, OSIA Foundation, 911 Memorial Fund, Garibaldi Meucci Museum, and Commission for Social Justice;
Local donations include: Local Heroes, iPods for Wounded Veterans, Wilmington Memorial Library, Wilmington Recreation Department, Wilmington Community Fund and Food Pantry, Wilmington Athletic Alumni & Friends, Wilmington Band Parents, Wilmington Senior Citizens, Wilmington Kiwanis, Wilmington Fourth of July Committee, Wilmington Lions Club, Wilmington Rotary, Wilmington Knights of Columbus, Wilmington Minutemen, Wilmington Police and Fire Departments, Tewksbury Hospital, A.I.M., Aleppo Temple Charities, St. Thomas Women’s Club, the Catholic Community of Wilmington and South Tewksbury, Boy Scout Troop 126, and school PACs;
Support to Wilmington youth and high school athletics: Little League, Youth Hockey, Pop Warner, Tops Soccer, Youth Soccer, Youth Lacrosse, Wilmington High School Holiday Wrestling Tournament (30 plus years), AAU Basketball/Junior Olympics, electronic scoreboards for WHS football, baseball, and lacrosse fields, indoor batting cage for WHS baseball and softball teams, batting helmets and baseball bats for WHS baseball, uniforms purchased for all varsity high school teams;
$30,000-$50,000 is also donated annually to the Town of Wilmington for purchases such as: a DARE police car, senior citizens handicapped-accessible van and a BINGO board for their senior center, two thermal imaging devices, a fire chief’s SUV and a pickup truck for the Wilmington Fire Department, new playgrounds for the North Intermediate School and the Woburn Street School, stadium jackets, replacement parade uniforms and hats for Wilmington High School Marching Band and uniforms for the color guard, a donation to repair the gazebo at the Town Common, a Welcome to Wilmington sign at the Town Common, and the pavilion for Yentile Recreational Facility.

The Wilmington Sons of Italy Lodge sponsors for its members a bowling league (est. 1977), a summer bocce league (est. 2009), a Junior Lodge (est. 2009), and a softball team (est. 2010).

Socials are held to benefit our charitable work and can be found on the calendar section of our website: http://www.wilmingtonsoi.org. New members are always welcomed and need not be of Italian heritage. Contact us at (978) 657-7734.

The Wilmington Sons of Italy has been an ardent supporter of charitable and educational causes since its inception 50 years ago. Their generosity has assisted individuals, families, and community groups. Whether supporting a local youth group or contributing to international earthquake relief efforts, members of the Wilmington Sons of Italy have always opened their hearts and pocketbooks in the spirit of brotherhood. The charitable and service organizations mentioned above are just a few that the Wilmington Sons of Italy has supported over the past 50 years. With the help of an increasingly strong membership, the Wilmington Sons of Italy will continue to address the needs of our community for years to come.

Donation Request Form 2025

The Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge # 2183 meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at the United Methodist Church

87 Church St - Wilmington, MA.

The Lodge is committed to community service, charitable giving, and promoting and preserving Italian culture.

Over the past year we've donated over $58.000.00 to our town's Sports and organizations - Basketball, Special Olympics, Track, Band, Strings Attached, Little League, Baseball, Tennis, Eagle Scouts, School PACs, Football, March-a-Pella, Soccer, Hockey, Wrestling, WOW, Library, Paula's Pantry, SEEM Collaborative, Rotary, drug addiction recovery, IPODs for Wounded Vets, St. Thomas Women's Club. We've also contributed to Charitable walks and road races - Alzheimers, Heart Disease,Breast Cancer, New England Pediatric care and our Outreach Committee helps needy families for the holiday.

The Wilmington Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge was founded in 1967. We have been serving the Town for almost 60 years and are proud members of the community.

The Sons and Daughters of Italy have been extremely generous to the Town and our fellow neighbors over those years. I want to highlight a few major donations we have made to the Town over that time:

The funding of the electronic scoreboard for WHS Football Field, Baseball Field, Lacrosse Field (at Woburn Street School)
A DARE police car
A Handicap Accessible Van for the Senior Center
2 Thermal imaging devices for the Wilmington Fire Department
A pickup truck for the Chief of the Wilmington Fire Department
Batting cages for the Wilmington High school baseball and softball teams
Stadium jackets and Parade Helmets for the Wilmington High School Band
$50,000 for a playground at the North Intermediate school
$50,000 for a playground at the Woburn Street school.

AED WHS (2009) and $1000.00 to WOW for AEDs (2018)
Wilmington Memorial Library to sponsor the Aquarium pass (2004 - 2025).
Wilmington Unified School Day Games – Special Olympics (2019)
WHS Football, Baseball, Softball, Hockey, Track teams, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Golf shirts Uniforms
Five Blocking Pads for the WHS football team
Chamber of Commerce - a sponsor of the Ice Sculptures at the tree lighting ceremonies in Wilmington and Tewksbury.
$5000 to repair Gazebo on the Town Common
Meals for First Responders during COVID.(2020)
Sponsor Annual Wilmington Sons of Italy Wrestling Tournament for 39 years (1986 – 2025)
$500.00 to the Wilmington Recreation Department to purchase candy for the Horribles Parade. 2003-2025
Yearly Sponsor of Wilmington Little League
Purchased the Welcome to Wilmington Sign on the Town Common
Sponsored School PACs Ice Cream Socials for several years
IPods for Vets (2017 – 2025)
Wilmington Food Bank (quarterly donation)(2017 – 2023)
Sponsored WCTV to be a “powered by” sponsor for their docu-series entitled “Under the Lights” 2023
$100,000.00 for Wilmington Pavillion (2018)

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