Honored for his dedication and ministry to East Boston youth.
(Lynnfield, MA) The Pirandello Lyceum which promotes Italian history and culture while recognizing the contributions of Italian Americans to society last Saturday honored Salesian Fr. Bill Bucciferro with one of its “I Miglori” awards.
The award was created to appreciate the accomplishments of contemporary Italians and Italian Americans. Formally known as “I Miglori in Mens et Gesta” — “The Best in Mind and Deeds” — it has been bestowed upon more than 300 men and women.
Fr. Bill Bucciferro was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois. His father was born in the Abruzzi region of ltaly, and his mother, whose family was also from Abruzzi, was born in America. He entered the seminary in 1974, attending Don Bosco College in Newton, New Jersey. Fr. Bill was professed as a Salesian of St. John Bosco on September 1, 1976. Last year Fr. Bill celebrated his 40th year as a Catholic priest.
He completed his Theological studies in Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1983. Over the next forty years, Fr. Bill has had a variety of pastoral assignments. ln 1998, he was the founding pastor of Salesian work in the Chicago Archdioceses.
He was the pastor for nine years. ln 2008, Fr. Bill was assigned as our Salesian Shrine Church coordinator in Story Point, New York. His next pastoral assignment was at the University of Illinois as a Chaplain at the Newman Center on campus from 2013 to 2017.
ln 2017, Fr. Bill was assigned to the Salesian Boys & Girls Club in East Boston. He is the Club’s Director of Youth Ministry. Fr. Bill also assists on the weekends at the Ave Maria Parish in Lynnfield as a celebrant and is the Catholic Chaplain at the Essex County Correctional Center in Danvers. Last summer, Fr. Bill was welcomed into Knights of Columbus Council 3745 in Lynnfield.
Fr. Bill was nominated for the award by Vera Carducci.
Other dignitaries who were lauded with an “I Miglori” award this year include Marguerite J. Dennis (former Vice President of Suffolk University); the Honorable Justice Frank Gaziano of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; Dame, Dr. Mary Rorro, a psychiatrist, poet and musician; Domenico Staniscia, an entrepreneur; and Sondra Celli, a fashion designer and renowned television personality who received the Lyceum’s President’s award.
Recognition by the Pirandello Lyceum is a significant honor. Boston Magazine has said that receiving the I Migliori Award is one of the most prestigious that can be bestowed on an Italian American. The Award represents “ …excellence in mind and deed”.
Proceeds from the “I Miglori” event support the active Pirandello Lyceum Scholarship Program.
