Archive for Events

Festa di S. Antonio 2023

 

Feast of St. Anthony 2023

For centuries, the annual Feast of St. Anthony has been a highlight of the year for all the villagers of Mortale/Monforte and the surrounding area.  It is not only an opportunity to honour the village’s patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua, but also an occasion to gather together families from far and wide, to celebrate together, and to keep alive important traditions so that they can be enjoyed by many future generations.

Celebrations often extend over a couple of days, but the “Festa” itself is always on 13th June, and the day usually starts with a mass, celebrated in Mortale’s church, followed by a procession of the statue of St. Anthony through the village.  People make their own arrangements for lunch, and often this is followed by games in the afternoon, before gathering again for music, dancing and fireworks in the evening.  Specific details are always published in advance by the organising committee, and this year’s programme is attached here.

The Festa has always been funded by kind donations from people local to Mortale and other villages, as well as others sending contributions from further afield.  This year a special bank account has been opened, and people are now able to contribute electronically to help to keep this important tradition going even if they are not able to attend in person.  If you would like to donate directly via bank transfer, please contact one of the festa organisers, my namesake, Paul Forte, from Mortale, on monfortecasalattico@gmail.com and he will send you the IBAN/bank details.

 

Festa di S. Antonio 2023

Per secoli, la Festa di S. Antonio è stato un momento speciale dell’anno per tutti gli abitanti di Mortale/Monforte e dintorni. Non è solo un’occasione per onorare il patrono del paese, S. Antonio di Padova, ma anche un’occasione per riunire famiglie provenienti da ogni parte del mondo, per festeggiare insieme, e per mantenere vive le tradizioni importanti affinché possano essere vissute da molte generazioni nel futuro.

I festeggiamenti spesso si estendono su un paio di giorni, ma la Festa vera e propria è sempre il 13 giugno, e la giornata inizia normalmente con una messa, celebrata nella chiesa di Mortale, seguita da una processione della statua di S. Antonio intorno il paese.  La gente  organizza autonomamente il pranzo, e spesso questo è seguito dai giochi popolari, prima che si riunisca per musica, balli e fuochi d’artificio la sera. I dettagli specifici sono sempre pubblicati in anticipo dal comitato, e il programma di quest’anno è allegato qui.

La Festa è sempre stata finanziata dalle donazioni di gente da Mortale e da altri paesi vicini, oltre che da persone che hanno inviato contributi da più lontano. Quest’anno è stato aperto un conto bancario speciale e le persone possono ora contribuire elettronicamente per aiutare a mantenere viva questa importante tradizione anche se non possono partecipare di persona. Se desideri donare direttamente tramite bonifico bancario, contatta uno degli organizzatori della festa, il mio omonimo, Paul Forte, di Mortale, su monfortecasalattico@gmail.come lui ti invierà l’IBAN/coordinate bancarie.

 

Fête de Saint Antoine 2023

Pendant des siècles, la Fête de Saint Antoine a été un moment spécial de l’année pour tous les habitants de Mortale/Monforte et de ses environs. Ce n’est pas seulement une occasion d’honorer le saint patron de la ville, Saint Antoine de Padoue, mais aussi une occasion de réunir des familles du monde entier, de célébrer ensemble, et de maintenir vivantes des traditions importantes afin qu’elles puissent être vécu pendant de nombreuses générations dans le futur.

Les festivités s’étendent souvent sur quelques jours, mais la Fête elle-même est toujours le 13 juin, et la journée commence généralement par une messe, célébrée dans l’église de Mortale, suivie d’une procession de la statue de Saint Antoine autour du village. Les gens organisent leur propre déjeuner, qui est souvent suivi de jeux folkloriques, avant de se réunir à nouveau pour de la musique, de la danse et des feux d’artifice le soir. Les détails spécifiques sont toujours publiés à l’avance par le comité, et le programme de cette année est joint ici.

La Fête a toujours été financé par les dons des habitants de Mortale et d’autres villes voisines, ainsi que par des personnes qui ont envoyé des contributions de plus loin. Un compte bancaire spécial a été ouvert cette année et les gens peuvent désormais contribuer par voie électronique pour aider à perpétuer cette importante tradition même s’ils ne peuvent pas y assister en personne. Si vous souhaitez faire un don directement par virement bancaire, veuillez contacter l’un des organisateurs de la fête, mon homonyme, Paul Forte, de Mortale, à monfortecasalattico@gmail.com et il vous enverra les coordonnées bancaires/IBAN.

Festa di S. Antonio 2022

Details of this year’s Festa di S. Antonio on 13th June in Mortale:

10 – 12 June

18:00    Mass

13 June 

11:00   Mass followed by a procession, accompanied by the “Città di Vallegrande” band

20:30   Musical event at la soda with “A Tutto Ballo”

Celebration of Caroline’s Life

A message from Caroline Forte’s immediate family:

 

We’d like to invite Caroline’s family and friends to celebrate Caroline with us at St Andrews Church, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FN at 1pm on 11th March, and afterwards for drinks at Rockwater, Western Esplanade, BN3 4FA. 

 

Please be as glamorous as you wish.

 

We do hope you can join us to share wonderful memories of Caroline. 

 

Please no flowers, but if you’d like to make a donation, Caroline supported Centrepoint https://centrepoint.org.uk/donate/appeals/tv-sponsor-a-room/ and as a family we support Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/donate/

Festa della Madonna del Carmine 2016

This annual festa took place as ever on the second Saturday of October in Mortale this year and was well attended by people from far and wide.  The evening started with a mass for the Madonna del Carmine at 6.30 pm, followed by a torchlit procession during which the statue of our Lady was carried through Mortale before being returned to the church.

An evening of entertainment followed in the village hall with traditional roasted chestnuts, food, wine, music and dancing until the early hours of the next morning.  This year’s music was provided by a very talented local group from Atina, who kept us all entertained with their accordions, keyboard and violin.

Thank you to all the organisers, who, once again, have given us an evening to remember and kept this important Mortalese tradition alive.

More photos can be found by clicking here and a short film by clicking here.

Two Speakers – One Family – One Event

Pictured here are Alex Polizzi, daughter of Olga and the late Alessandro Polizzi, granddaughter of the late Charles and Irene Forte (London), together with my cousin, Giovanna Forte, daughter of the late Nino and Luisa Forte (Brighton), granddaughter of the late Alfonso and Filomena Forte.

On Monday 16th November, they both delivered speeches at the London Small Business Centre on the opening day of an event during Global Entrepreneurship Week, showcasing inspirational female-led businesses .

Alex, a hotelier, entrepreneur and acclaimed TV presenter delivered the day’s keynote speech, and Giovanna, founding director and CEO of healthcare company Forte Medical, spoke about the dangers associated with raising investment for small businesses.