Path to Sainthood Continues S ISTER B LANDINA ’ S
By S. Georgia Kitt
C
urrent interest in the causefor sainthood for S. Blandina Segale remains high and enthusiastic. Articles have appeared nationally as well as locally, offering insights into the young S. Blandina who founded hospitals and schools, but also rescued those who were being trafficked and advocated for justice in the Southwest.
At the same time the TV production crews came, the canonization group for her cause - Bishop Emeritus Ricardo Ramirez (postulator) and Michael J. Sheehan (judge); Allen Sanchez, CEO of St. Joseph’s Children (petitioner) and Rev. Oscar Coelho (promoter of justice) also paid a visit to the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse and the Archives. This group is currently S. Blandina’s broad appeal in the third session of the second continues to stimulate the activities diocesan inquiry and are preparing of the Sisters of Charity Archives at Tomas Sanchez and his crew visited the Mount St. Joseph their report for the Pontifical the Motherhouse as well. Two areas Motherhouse in August to research material for the TV series, Congregation for the Cause of curiosity, for those following her At the End of the Santa Fe Trail, to be based on S. Blandina of Saints in Rome. They cause closely, are the late August visit Segale’s life. are authorized to inquire into of the television production team of S. Blandina’s heroic virtues. Recently appointed as the Tomas Sanchez and the Aug. 30 meeting of the canonization historical commission, to assist the canonization group, group held at the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse. and taking their deposition for this phase of the process The award-winning production crew for Sanchez Films were: Veronica Buchanan, SC archivist; S. Victoria Marie LLC spent one week in August reviewing the many materials Forde; Tim Moller, CFO, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati; in the SC Archives related to S. Blandina’s life and ministry and Amelia Riedel, Communications director, SC Ministry in the Southwest and her direct work among the Italian Foundation. Five current members of San Antonio Church immigrants in Cincinnati. The company, headed by Tomas were also deposed, recording their knowledge of the history Sanchez, held a press conference on July 13 in Albuquerque, of the parish and S. Blandina’s founding of their church in New Mexico, to announce their plans to produce the TV 1922. The Vatican has completed an initial investigatory series, At the End of the Santa Fe Trail, and to raise funds for phase on her life and is now assessing whether she committed the project. They have been given permission to use the same any miracles to inform the Church’s decision on whether she title as that of her book which is an account of her experiences should be a saint. ministering to the needs of the Native American and Hispanic Allen Sanchez, CEO of St. Joseph’s Children, originally immigrants in Colorado and New Mexico in the 1890s. petitioned for her sainthood June 29, 2014, in Santa Fe, The basis for the television series will engage audiences New Mexico. In speaking about S. Blandina, Sanchez with S. Blandina’s exploits while staying true to the story of remarked, “She saw good in everyone, including criminals, this Sister who immigrated to the U.S. from a small Italian and at the turn of the century convinced the Bernalillo, village in 1854, only to find herself in the New Mexico New Mexico, sheriff to empty the county jail to help build Territory staring down armed outlaws, including Billy the St. Joseph’s Children, which still carries on her mission today. Kid. The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati will have oversight Her stands against violence in the Wild West are particularly and give final approval to the script the crew develops along relevant in a modern America as gun violence continues to with ongoing rights to review the materials’ authenticity. The plague the country. She finds the best in everyone.” production crew plans to produce the scripts for the series in Stay tuned to the ongoing developments of S. Blandina October, with actual completion of the TV series estimated to be one year away; most of the actual producing will take place Segale’s cause by referring to the Sisters of Charity website in New Mexico, providing 150 jobs to New Mexico residents. at www.srcharitycinti.org.
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