History & Culture
Celebration of the Patrons of the Arts in the
Vatican Museums - Ohio Members meet Pop Francis
Dennis J. Castiglione
contributing writer, Cleveland, Ohio
Trenta soci dell’Ohio dei Patrons
of the Arts in the Vatican Museums hanno
incontrato il Papa Francesco durante
un’udienza speciale a San Pietro, in occasione del trentennale della fondazione
dell’associazione. A detta di tutti i presenti,
un’esperienza semplicemente indimenticabile!
A visit to the Vatican…and specifically the Vatican Museums can be an aweinspiring event. The history, the art and
the spiritual aspects contribute to an exceptional cultural experience for visitors. But
for members of the Patrons of the Arts
in the Vatican Museums, it’s always an
extraordinary visit, due in part to the privileges they enjoy in membership. Their
tours of the museums circumvent the long
lines of general visitors for private tours
of off-limit galleries and restoration laboratories, special access to St. Peter’s Basilica,
the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican gardens.
This past October, more than 350
Patrons, including 30 from the Ohio
Chapter, lead by Chairman Lorraine
Dodero, also shared what they collectively
considered an ‘experience of a lifetime.’
They participated in the 30th Anniversary
celebration of the Patrons organization at
the Vatican Museums. “To be a part of the
(anniversary) events at the Vatican and the
Vatican Museums brought memories that
will remain in my thoughts for a lifetime.
It was a priceless adventure,” said Dodero.
The Patrons of the Arts in the
Vatican Museums marked their anniversary with lectures on museum restoration projects, catered dinners in museum
galleries, a vespers service in the Sistine
Chapel celebrated by papal prefect Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, a private
mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a special
private audience with Pope Francis.
During his audience with the Patrons,
Pope Francis called particular attention to
the group’s contributions. “Over the past
three decades, the Patrons have made an
outstanding contribution to the restoration
of numerous treasures of art preserved in
the Vatican collections and to the broader
religious, artistic and culture mission of the
museums,” he said. “For this I thank you
most heartily.” He went on to note that
Rome’s ‘countless’ pilgrims and visitors can
encounter the Gospel message through the
art that is found in the Vatican Museums.
“(These works) bear witness to
the spiritual aspirations of humanity,
the sublime mysteries of the Christian
faith and the quest of that supreme
beauty which has its source and fulfillment in God,” Pope Francis explained.
Rev. Mark Haydu, International Director
of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican
Museums, echoed the sentiments of Pope
Francis by stressing that art is pivotal in the
task of bringing God to secular society. He
reflected that “Our hope and my job as a
priest is to infuse into the spirit of the family
of the patrons, this evangelistic attitude that
we want to preserve beauty, not just for its
cultural value, but also because Jesus Christ
spoke through symbols and through art.”
As a further testimony to his appreciation for the contributions of the patrons,
the Holy Father personally greeted each of
the more than 350 patrons in attendance at
the private audience. “This was the most
exciting experience I’ve ever had,” said Ohio
Patrons member Carolyn Mandato. Fellow
Patron Norm Kotoch, Sr. concurred, “The
personal audience with the Holy Father
was something we will always treasure.”
The Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican
Museums were founded in 1983 after an
exhibit from the Vatican Museums toured
the United States. The concern for the preservation of the museums’ treasures amongst
those who saw the works generated interest
in founding an organization dedicated to the
special task of restoration. Today there are
approximately 2,500 members in chapters
throughout the United States and Canada
as well as several European nations such as
Belgium, France, Portugal and the United
Kingdom. The group annually contributes
approximately $5 million toward restoration
projects in and around the Vatican museums.
Over the years, the organization has
funded, among other things, the restoration
of the Sistine Chapel and three of the four
Raphael Rooms in the Apostolic Palace.
The Ohio Chapter was founded
in May 2005 by Lorraine Dodero, a
member of the Patrons of the Arts since
1995. Today, the Ohio Chapter has 150
members who have contributed more than
$1.4 million to the restoration of art in
the Vatican Museums (and various other
buildings and art works in/around the
Vatican and Rome). The 2013 project
funded by the Ohio Chapter is the restoration of the entranceway to the Museums.
Buon Natale
Wishing you a very
Merry Christmas
Dominic A. Visconsi
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LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | DECEMBER 2013
LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | DECEMBER 2013
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