ALLEGANY, N.Y. — A movie about the life of the first American Franciscan saint, that includes an interview with historian Dominic Monti, OFM, will be shown next month at St. Bonaventure University.
The school will host the Southern Tier premiere of the documentary about the life of Mother Marianne Cope, OSF, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, followed by a question-and-answer session with the documentary producers and hosts. The documentary, titled “A Saint for Central New York,” will premiere on network television in the Syracuse media area over the Thanksgiving holiday.
St. Marianne Cope, a leader in the field of healthcare, often caring for those considered to be outcasts, was one of seven people made saints by Pope Benedict XVI at the Oct. 21 canonization Mass at the Vatican. The only other American canonized was Kateri Tekakwitha.
The movie will include an interview with Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM. The Franciscan historian met with James Aroune of PBS in Syracuse last month to discuss the sister, a native of Utica, N.Y.
The university is among the lead sponsors of the documentary, which is being produced through a collaboration of Syracuse’s NBC, CBS, and CW television stations, and the PBS affiliate, WCNY-TV/FM. Leading up to the premiere, the stations are also airing several vignettes about St. Marianne.
SBU president Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, said she “is thrilled” that the university is part of the effort to tell the story of the first American Franciscan to be canonized, according to the university’s news release. “St. Marianne became strong by following each day’s call to hard work done with reliance on God’s gifts. That is a path anyone can follow, and so, she gives us a chance to see holiness in the everyday experience of doing our jobs.” Sr. Margaret is a member of St. Marianne’s religious community, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, in Syracuse. Information about the Oct. 21 ceremony was posted on the website of St. Francis Sisters.
The Western New York university also recently announced news about several other developments including:
• The school’s first comprehensive strategic plan for athletics that “positions St. Bonaventure to repeat and surpass last year’s success — and not just on the basketball court,” according to an Oct. 22 email distributed to alumni and friends.
• The release by SBU’s Franciscan Institute Publications of “The Life and Miracles of St. Margaret of Cortona (1247 — 1297)” translated into English by Thomas Renna and Shannon Larson
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.