Speech #1010131125

Charles of Staten Island. NY. He served at Our Lady of Pompel Church in New York from 1959 through 1965. where he worked with Italian immigrants. and on August 22. 1966. he was appointed executive national secretary of the American Committee on ItalIan Migration. The American Committee on Italian Migration is a private. voluntary. nonprofit agency which supports a fair immigration policy and offers services to assist Italian Immigrants in their problems of resettlement and assimilation. In his capacity as ACIM executive national secretary. Father Cogo has often testified with regard to immigration legislation before the House and Senate Immigration Subcommittees. He was received with ACIM delegations by Presidents Johnson. Nixon. and Carter. He broadcasts an Italian language radio program three times weekly on behalf of ACIM giving Information on Immigration. citizenship. and social services. He also appears on Italian language television on alternate Sundays. Father Cogo was the founding father of the Italian committee on education. which sponsors the teaching of Italian to children of ItalIan immigrants and the teaching of English to recently arrived immigrants. In line with the unique character of the Society of St. CharlesScalabdni FathersFather Cogo has developed new forms of ministry among Italian Immigrants In the New York metropolitan area. He Is responsible for coordination of the ministry in Italian In 15 churches on a weekly basis and of many other occasional services. He Is a member of the executive board of the Northeast Italian Apostolage Conference. a group of priests. religious. and lay people. organized for the purpose of promoting and coordinating the spiritual and social care of Italian immigrants In the eastern seaboard States. He broadcasts a 10minute religious program weekly in Italian on WEVD for the Italian Church of Our Lady of Pompel in New York city. He Is director of the Italian Seamans Club on West 44th St. in New York City where seamen. mainly but not exclusively Italian. are being provided with a home away from home when they call on the Port of New York. In recognition of Father Cogos work on behalf of Italian immigrants. the Government of Italy conferred upon him in 1977 the Knighthood in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. and promoted him to the rank of commander in 1985. He received the Medal of Liberty Award from the readers of II Progresso ItaloAmedcano as an outstanding member of the ItalianAmerican community. This award was presented in Washington by H.E. Rinaldo Petdgnani. Ambassador of Italy to the United States. in October of last year. Father Cogo has been reassigned last January and is now pastor of Sacred Heart Church. the oldest Italian church in the historic north end of Boston. and coordinator for the Archdiocese of Boston for the pastoral care of immigrants of all nationalities. ACIM was founded by Judge Juvenal L. Marchisio.