An Ancestral Journey to Sicily

Reclaiming and Reconnecting Roots

For years, my dear friend Lisa dreamed of returning to her family’s roots in Sicily. I always promised, “Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll be your travel buddy!” Time passed, but as a milestone birthday approached, Lisa decided to celebrate by gathering close friends and journeying to her ancestral homeland.

Once Lisa shared her plans, I dove into helping with some of the travel planning, began working on genealogical research, and organized a day trip and tour to her ancestral town. With this goal in mind, our mission was clear: to uncover more about her paternal great-grandfather, Francesco, and previous generations. This project quickly became a joyful adventure in revealing family history and preparing for a meaningful celebration and trip.

With family stories and research, we set out to answer decades-old questions: Where was Francesco Catalano born? He emigrated from Sicily to the United States in 1909. What shaped his life in Sicily, and why did he leave?

We learned that Francesco was born in 1893 in Mazzarra Sant’Andrea, in the Messina municipality of Sicily. At sixteen, he left his family and homeland, traveling with a friend to seek new opportunities in the United States.  Like many southern Italians of that era, his family faced hardships with cattle herding and domestic work being common livelihoods. While the community itself was renowned for its citrus and flower nurseries.

Mazzarra Sant’Andrea Municipal Crest

Without a specific written or oral history, we can only imagine the factors that influenced Francesco’s journey in April of 1909. The devastating December 1908 Messina Earthquake and Tsunami, coupled with social and economic turmoil following Italian unification, left Sicily struggling with poverty and uncertainty. As word of opportunity and prosperity in America spread and transatlantic travel became more attainable, the dream of a better life inspired many—Francesco among them—to set out for "L’America." [The Great Arrival]

Lisa’s birthday wish came true!

As a small group of family and friends gathered to celebrate and visit her ancestral home place - Sicily

As our travel date neared, my research had traced six generations of the Catalano family, with leads on two more. Our goal was to walk in the Catalano ancestors' footsteps, visit the ancestral town, and perhaps discover more about a possible connection to a paternal great-great-grandmother named Messina, just like the province.

Our journey began at the Mazzarra Sant’Andrea City Office, where we met Alessia, our tour guide. She introduced us to Angela, the official overseeing the town’s vital records. I accessed these records in advance using Portale Antenati, an invaluable online resource for Italian ancestry research, which laid the foundation for our discoveries. Alessia coordinated with Angela, who searched additional local archives and obtained documents from the 1800s. Angela was able to share records we hadn't found, uncover the places they lived in town, and reveal additional ancestors.  Seeing these tangible pieces of the Catalano family history was profoundly moving.

Alessia then led us through the town. We traced the stradas and piazzas where the Catalanos once lived. As dusk fell, we visited the Duomo Santa Maria delle Grazie. This beautiful church, built in 1766, was where the family worshipped generations ago. The sense of connection—both to place and to ancestors—was overwhelming.

We are deeply grateful to Alessia, the people of Mazzarra Sant’Andrea, Angela at City Hall, and Father Morabito of the Duomo Santa Maria delle Grazie for their time, knowledge, and for sharing the town’s history.

This journey is only the beginning of an unfolding narrative that will braid the tethers of past, current, and future generations of the Catalanos together.  In reconnecting with the past, we found not just ancestors and answers, but a sense of belonging that will resonate for years to come.

Citation:  "The Great Arrival." Library of Congress.

https://www.loc.gov/classroommaterials/immigration/italian/the-great-arrival/