Friday, April 24, 2026
Rhine River Cruise May 1-8, 2026
Friday, January 2, 2026
Historical sacramental records at St. Philomena’s Catholic Church, Omaha aka St. Francis Cabrini
I received this note from my friend Vic Moberg. So I am posting it here for posterity.
St. Philomena’s Catholic Church, which served Omaha's Little Italy, was renamed St. Francis Cabrini in 1961. For more information on the history of this church in the heart of Little Italy, Omaha:
https://stcabriniomaha.org/welcome/parish-history/
Address: 1248 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68108, Phone: (402) 934-7706, Email: office@stcabriniomaha.org.
Historical sacramental records (Baptism/1st Communion/Confirmation/
For records from other locations, the Archdiocese of Omaha archivist is:
Archdiocese of Omaha Chancery
2222 N. 111th St.
Omaha, NE 68164
There has typically been a $10 charge per sacramental record search request, but given Cabrini's $20 charge, it may have gone up.
Vic Moberg
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Grandpa Dick Naturalized in 1931
My cousin MaryLynne found some very interesting documents in her parent’s file cabinet.
This naturalization certificate may be the only picture that we have of our grandfather as a young man. The certificate says he was 22 years old but he was actually 25 in 1931.
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| 1931 Certificate of Citizenship for Richard Cimino |
The age discrepancy is explained by the arrival record below. Grandpa Dick was actually five years old when he arrived in the U.S. in 1911 but the passenger list says he was 2 years old. This record was requested when Grandpa decided to begin drawing his Social Security pension in 1971.
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| Letter from INS re: arrival of Sebastiano Cimino, age 2 |
There is another discrepancy in the letter above because Grandpa was actually born in 1906 as you will see in the documents below.
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| This 1971 cover letter from the City of Lentini is addressed to the Social Security Office in Sacramento and references the Extract of the Register which contained the birth of Sebastiano Cimino (also known as Richard Cimino) |
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| Extract of the Register of Births of Lentini 1906 |
This extract of the birth register of 1906 record 583, states that Sebastiano Cimino was born 30 October 1906 in Lentini at a house on Via Flavio Gioia, number 31. His father was Antonino Cimino and his mother was Maria Ossino. The birth was recorded on the 1st of November 1906. The extract is dated 2 August 1971.
I was so excited when I saw these documents. What a genealogy treasure trove! I am so grateful that my Aunt Betty Ann and my cousin MaryLynne preserved these documents and MaryLynne shared them with me.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Questions for Nick Cimino – Roots tourism
My wife and I recently returned from 28 days in Europe including 6 days in Carlentini with visits to Lentini, Villasmundo and Sortino.
Our Lentini visits included a tour of the Archeological Museum led by Nuccia Silvana Pirruccello. She introduced us to two of her students that are working on a Roots Tourism project.
The students sent me a series of questions and here are my replies:
Questions for Nick Cimino – Roots tourism
🌱 Questions about the roots tourism
Cosa spinge, secondo lei, così tanti italo-discendenti a intraprendere un viaggio per riscoprire le proprie origini familiari?
In che modo il turismo delle radici può contribuire allo sviluppo culturale ed economico di piccoli centri come Lentini o Carlentini?
Ha notato un cambiamento nell’approccio degli italiani verso il turismo delle radici, ora che anche le istituzioni iniziano a promuoverlo?
What, in your opinion, drives so many Italian descendants to undertake travel to rediscover their family origins?
The pressure to Americanize or assimilate into the mainstream American culture was very strong in Italian immigrant families. Americans of all ethnicities are discovering the wonders of Italy. Italian descendants are naturally curious about the geography and culture that their families left behind. For those of us with roots in eastern Sicily, the spiritual draw of the island, the sea and Mama Etna is very strong.
How can roots tourism contribute to the cultural and economic development of small towns like Lentini or Carlentini?
These towns are not on the itinerary of the conventional tour groups so capitalizing on roots tourism makes a lot of sense. Cultural and economic connections with the Lentinese and Carlentinese throughout the world creates enthusiasm for travel to discover their roots. The first time I visited these towns in 2022 we stayed in Agnone Bagni and drove into town. I notice that many roots tourists on the first visit prefer to book their lodging in Taormina, Catania or Siracusa. This year in 2025, we stayed in a rental house in Carlentini on Via Padre Luciano Aletta for six nights. This allowed us to patronize Bar Derby, the local Conad and many other stores in Lentini and Carlentini. Cultural connections included 1) a visit to the Lentini Archeological Museum with a tour by Nuccia Silvana Pirruccello, 2) a movie on emigration at the Convent of Carmine hosted by Ciro Militti, 3)three visits to local churches to meet with the priests and view the parish registers, 4) a visit to my cousin Marinella Cassarino at the Carlentini library to borrow a book called Protagonisti: Dizionario Biografico di Carlentini, 5) a meeting with the mayor of Carlentini that included my cousins, 6) a music and dance party at the Santa Anna church to celebrate our cultural connection, 7) a visit to a Lentini book shop to purchase a copy of Populu di Lintini, sintiti, sintiti..Viaggio tra ricordi e racconti di vecchi artigiani e antinchi mestieri, 8) meals in the homes of cousins and friends to celebrate the local cuisine and tell stories, 9) visits to local schools to meet the teachers, staff and students.
In addition, I am in communication with many other Americans that have plans to buy property as vacation homes/short term rentals in Carlentini and Lentini.
Have you noticed a change in the Italians’ approach towards roots tourism, now that the institutions are also starting to promote it?
Promotion of roots tourism by the institutions is a very positive step in the process. However, most of the effort for promotion of roots tourism is happening through a grass roots network of motivated individuals. More institutional support of the genealogical connections is needed. The increase in interest in dual Italian citizenship has made it practically impossible for the local officials in the Stato Civile and the Uffizio Anagrafe to assist me in my efforts to locate living relatives for roots tourists. More support needs to be given to these offices so that they can help identify the roots tourism connections.
🧬 Questions about your work as a Genealogist
Qual è stato il caso genealogico più emozionante o sorprendente che ha seguito nella sua carriera?
Come riesce a costruire un albero genealogico partendo da poche informazioni? Quali sono le fonti più utili?
Ha mai trovato storie o segreti di famiglia che hanno cambiato completamente la narrazione che una persona aveva delle proprie origini?
What was the most emotional or surprising genealogical case you followed in your career?
Probably the most surprising case involved a former slave that became a public official and a minister. I wrote about it here: http://www.ancestorpuzzles.com/2015/04/the-mysterious-bob-sloan-his-journey.html
I was surprised to learn that freed blacks were elected to public offices in Texas in the period following the American Civil War because shortly thereafter, black men were deprived of their right to vote.
The most emotional genealogical case involved my maternal 2nd great grandmother, a woman known as Annie Moss who worked as a domestic servant in California from the 1880s to the 1920s. Around 1900 she got involved in a scheme to impersonate the daughter of a wealthy man who died without a will. The court ruled that she was an imposter. She was never prosecuted for this fraud as far as I can tell but the story was clouded in mystery by my family.
How do you manage to build a genealogical tree starting from a few information? What are the most useful sources?
The answer to that question depends on whether the tree is for an American or an Italian. The general rule is that you start with the individual person and their dates and location of birth. You ask them for the names of their parents and grandparents. Sometimes they know the dates of birth and death but often they do not. In America, we have access to numerous databases. For example, we have a database called the Nebraska Birth Index 1912-1994. We also have other sources such as marriage and death indexes, the U.S. Census from 1950 back to 1790. American newspapers often have news articles, obituaries and wedding anniversaries about a particular ancestor. So the sources in the USA are numerous.
In Italy, we have access to birth, marriage and death records but they are much more limited in their time period. For example, birth records are only available prior to 1916 and death records are only publicly accessible prior to 1946. We have compiled cemetery records for Carlentini and Lentini which are very helpful for locating the dates of death for most grandparents on a family tree of an older person. Italian cemeteries are also very useful to the genealogist because they often provide a photo of the person buried.
Have you ever found family stories or secrets that completely changed a person’s narrative of their origins?
DNA testing is a genealogical tool that occasionally results in surprises. I have worked with many people who have learned through DNA testing that they have Italian ancestry. Once they learn this, they become very interested in learning about their Italian ancestors including the history and culture. Even conventional genealogy research can lead to surprises about the accomplishments or the failures of our ancestors. Genealogy research can help us to have pride in our actual origins. Sometimes families tell mythical or grandiose stories about their origins. Genealogical research can help to either substantiate those stories or debunk them. In any case, our ancestors have overcome great odds to support and enlarge their families. We can all be proud that we are the product of many generations of people who worked hard in order to make our lives possible.
🇮🇹 Questions about your personal relationship with Italy
Essendo di origini siciliane, cosa prova ogni volta che torna nella terra dei suoi antenati?
Cosa le ha insegnato la cultura italiana che ancora oggi porta con sé nella vita quotidiana americana?
In che modo la sua identità è influenzata dal fatto di essere italo-americano? Si sente più italiano o più americano, o entrambi in modo diverso?
Being of Sicilian origins, what do you feel every time that you come back in the land of your ancestors?
I feel a sense of belonging and that I have returned to my home. The Sicilian people have been very warm and generous to me so I feel very comfortable when I return.
What did Sicilian culture teach you that you still carry with you into your daily American life today?
Sicilians have an appreciation for food, family and friends that resonates with me. Sicilians have a love of their island that has inspired me to make others aware of the vast treasure that is Sicily.
How is your identity influenced by being Italian-American?
Ever since I was a small child I have had a love of spaghetti and pizza. As a high school student, I learned to appreciate the Italian language and culture. As a father and a grandfather, I have tried to teach my children and grandchildren the strength and the richness of Italian heritage. As a genealogist, I have become committed to helping others connect with their Italian family history. I am constantly trying to project positive images of Italian Americans, native Italians and Italy, to overcome the Mafia stereotypes in the media. Since visiting Sicily in 2022 and both Sicily and Italy in 2025, I have taken greater pride in being Italian American. I have learned so much about our rich cultural heritage.
🔍 Questions about reflections and perspectives
Qual è, secondo lei, il valore più profondo che una persona riscopre quando si riavvicina alle proprie radici?
Come immagina il futuro del turismo genealogico tra le nuove generazioni? I giovani sono interessati a conoscere le proprie origini?
Quale consiglio darebbe a chi vuole cominciare un percorso di riscoperta genealogica, anche senza esperienza?
What do you think is the deepest value that a person rediscovers when he gets closer to his own roots?
My motto on my blog is: “Nick Cimino believes that genealogy is a path towards reconciliation and reunion with families transcending the boundaries of time and space.” So perhaps the deepest value is the perspective and understanding that genealogy can provide for the struggles that our ancestors faced and the ways that they were able to overcome those challenges and provide for their families.
How do you imagine the future of genealogical tourism among the new generations? Are young people interested in knowing their origins?
It is a struggle for younger people to have the leisure time and the funding required for genealogical tourism. Many young people are interested in knowing their origins but they do not have the time or the energy to devote to the research. When I find a young person who is interested in genealogy, I become very excited and try to support them in their efforts. I wish that schools had a greater understanding and appreciation of the role that genealogy and genealogy tourism can have in establishing and strengthening the sense of identity and belonging that comes with knowing about your roots.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start a genealogical rediscovery, even without experience?
Start with yourself and write down your own personal biography in chronological order. Then do the same for your parents and grandparents. Make a list of questions to ask your family about their education, employment, residences, travel, values, religion, goals and dreams, etc. Start entering your information into an online family tree or a story or some other form of documentation. Make digital copies of family photos and add captions with names to the photos. Add information on the date and location of the picture. Write a story about what happened the day the photo was taken. Search for documents, photos, certificates and family papers in your own house and other houses in your family and add them to your database. Write more stories about these items. Keep writing more questions at every step in the process.
💬 Final personal question
C’è un luogo o una persona in Sicilia che per lei rappresenta simbolicamente le sue radici?
Is there a place or a person in Sicily that symbolically represents your roots for you?
I have always been spiritually tied to mountains in California. I think this might come from my ancestors in Sicily that grew up within view of Mount Etna. I remember traveling as a young man to Mt. Shasta in northern California. I was entranced by this volcanic mountain and I spent several days near there. After seeing the view of the mountain from Carlentini and every other place in eastern Sicily, I knew there must be a spiritual connection for me to Mount Etna.
Friday, June 21, 2024
Lentini Death Indexes 1900-1929
Lentini Death Indexes 1900-1929
Morti 1900-1908 FILM #1963176
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313439?cat=587574
1900 P. 2124
1901 P. 2258
1902 P. 2386
1903 P. 2491
1904 P. 2598
1905 P. 2726
1906 P. 2888
1907 P. 3009
1908 P. 3093
Morti 1909-1910 FILM #1963177
Item 1
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313441?cat=587574
1909 P. 105
1910 P. 205
Morti 1911-1913 FILM #2141856
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313398?cat=587574
1911 P. 1816
1912 P. 1925
1913 P. 2019
Morti 1914-1929 FILM #2141857
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313397?cat=587574
1914 P. 117
1915 P. 247
1916 P. 398
1917 P. 566
1918 P. 773
1919 P. 898
1920 P. 1015
1921 P. 1129
1922 P. 1234
1923 P. 1334
1924 P. 1409
1925 P. 1541
1926 P. 1654
1927 P. 1777
1928 P. 1899
1929 P. 2002
Lentini Marriage Indexes
Lentini Marriage Indexes - Various Dates
Click the links below to open the marriage index for that year.
Marriage Indexes
1890 - All marriage records are missing for this year.
1893 A-D only
Lentini Marriage Indexes 1900-1929
Matrimoni 1900-1910 FILM #1963176
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313440?cat=587574
1900 P. 853
1901 P. 941
1902 P. 1037
1903 P. 1147
1904 P. 1245
1905 P. 1334
1906 P. 1441
1907 P. 1546
1908 P. 1672
1909 P. 1793
1910 P. 1906
Matrimoni 1911-1914 FILM #2141803
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313399?cat=587574
1911 P. 1653
1912 P. 1791
1913 P. 1910
1914 P. 2032
Matrimoni 1915-1929 FILM #2141856
https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007313398?cat=587574
1915 P. 81
1916 P. 142
1917 P. 200
1918 P. 256
1919 P. 415
1920 P. 607
1921 P. 779
1922 P. 924
1923 P. 1047
1924 P. 1170
1925 P. 1285
1926 P. 1390
1928 P. 1498
1929 P. 1604
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Immagini di Antenati: Photos of our Ancestors
I attended a webinar on Saturday, June 8, 2024 presented by the Italian Genealogical Group. https://www.italiangen.org/
Immagini di Antenati: Photos of our Ancestors was a presentation by IGG Board member and Past IGG President Michael Cassara.
One of the tips offered by Michael was a website called delcampe.net which features postcards and letters for sale. A search of "Lentini" yielded several postcards of the city of Lentini. In addition, I found this very cool image of an identification letter for Alfio Ferrara of Lentini.
Alfio Ferrara was the son of Giuseppe Ferrara and Cirina Alessandro and he was born in Lentini 26 Jan 1914. His address appears to be Via Cortile Melingi N. 7 but I am not absolutely sure about that. Check out the image of the birth record below and let me know what you think is the correct address.
Nascita 74-1914 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSD3-L959-3?i=1123&cat=587574
For more details on future IGG events and to register to attend webinars for free:
https://www.italiangen.org/events/
I hope you are having fun piecing together your "Ancestor Puzzles".
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