L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS sive screening. This event was organized by Matthew B a l l a n d t h e L o s A n g e l e s community of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in collaboration with Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios and producer of the film. T h e s c r e e n i n g w a s a l s o a t t e n d e d b y t h e C o n s u l General of Italy, Raffael- la Valentini: "As you've h e a r d , C a b r i n i w i l l b e r e l e a s e d i n t h e a t e r s o n March 8th, which is Interna- t i o n a l W o m e n ' s D a y , a n d this production is, in fact, a tangible reminder of the pro- found impact a woman can have on the world," the Con- s u l h i g h l i g h t e d . " M o t h e r Cabrini's life is a testament t o t h e p o w e r o f w o m e n ' s determination. Faced with a d v e r s i t y , s h e r e m a i n e d steadfast in her commitment to serve others, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric o f A m e r i c a n s o c i e t y . H e r legacy is an inspiration to us all." M o t h e r C a b r i n i , b o r n Maria Francesca Cabrini in 1850 in Sant'Angelo Lodi- giano, Italy, was a woman of profound faith and determi- nation. From a young age, she was drawn to the mis- sion of the Church, inspired by the stories of missionar- ies. Despite facing health challenges that prevented her from joining the reli - gious order of her choice, she n e v e r l e t h e r s p i r i t w a n e . Frances Cabrini dedicated herself to teaching and chari- ty work at an orphanage in Codogno, where she took her vows and later founded the Institute of the Missionary S i s t e r s o f t h e S a c r e d Heart of Jesus in 1880. Her mission took a pivotal turn when, instead of head- i n g t o C h i n a a s s h e h a d hoped, Pope Leo XIII direct- ed her to assist Italian immi- grants in the United States. I m m e d i a t e l y u p o n h e r arrival, she witnessed first- hand the struggles faced by Italian immigrants: poverty, discrimination, and a lack of access to essential services. But instead of turning away, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Mother Cabrini quickly established a net- work of institutions to assist I t a l i a n i m m i g r a n t s : s h e f o u n d e d o r p h a n a g e s , schools, and hospitals, pro- viding support and crucial resources to those in need. H e r m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t achievement was the estab- l i s h m e n t o f C o l u m b u s Hospital in New York, the first US hospital dedicat- ed to Italian immigrants. However, Mother Cabrini's impact extended far beyond the walls of her institutions. She was a tireless advocate for the rights and dignity of immigrants, fighting against discrimination and injustice wherever she encountered it. "It's a remarkable coinci- dence that as we delve into Mother Cabrini's life and v i e w t h i s f i l m , j u s t t w o weeks ago, the Italian Par- liament inaugurated a spe- cial art exhibit in her honor. This exhibit aims to spark r e f l e c t i o n o n m i g r a t i o n , echoing Mother Cabrini's b e l i e f t h a t e n c o u n t e r s between diverse cultures can enrich us all through dia- l o g u e , c o m p a s s i o n , a n d inclusion," Consul Valen- t i n i r e m a r k e d . " I n o n e sense or another, we are all immigrants. Many of you here tonight could consider y o u r s e l v e s a s s u c h . I ' m deeply appreciative of the chance to share this evening with you, as I'm confident this film will inspire us to draw strength from Mother Cabrini's legacy to continue our journey of service and support." While Cabrini is a canon- i z e d s a i n t i n t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , h e r l e g a c y t r a n - scends religious boundaries, making her a hero to many. Her influence has ignited a global inspiration, motivat- ing numerous individuals to a d o p t a p e r s o n a l e t h i c o f work and community ser- vice. Cabrini's accolades and celebrations extend across the United States, notably with a statue dedicated to h e r i n B a t t e r y P a r k C i t y , N e w Y o r k , i n 2 0 2 0 . "Francesca Cabrini stands as one of the most pivotal fig- ures in modern history, yet h e r s t o r y r e m a i n s l a r g e l y u n t o l d . C o n f r o n t e d w i t h daunting barriers, she chose to challenge the status quo of her era, leaving a lasting impact that reverberates to this day," said L i z E l l i s , C O O o f A n g e l S t u d i o s . "We're thrilled to bring her extraordinary tale to cine- mas this spring. This project also marks our second col- laboration with 'Sound of Freedom' director Alejandro Monteverde, receiving even h i g h e r a c c l a i m f r o m t h e Angel Guild than 'Sound of Freedom.' Our community holds great anticipation for this endeavor." Mary Louise Sullivan, a u t h o r o f t h e b i o g r a p h y M o t h e r C a b r i n i , I t a l i a n Immigrant of the Century, g a v e o f h e r a t h o u g h t f u l d e s c r i p t i o n : " R e l i g i o u s leader, business administra- tor and spokesperson for the downtrodden, Mother Cabri- ni was always a woman of compassion. Despite hard- ship, poor health and disap- pointment, Mother Cabrini's peace of soul enabled her to radiate a joy born of unfal- tering trust in divine provi- dence." Sullivan, however, c o n c l u d e d b y n o t i n g t h a t Mother Cabrini's strength, while undoubtedly originat- ing from Faith, perhaps also came from something else. Because Mother Cabrini was a l s o " t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f immigrant aspirations," Sul- livan wrote, aspirations she s u m m e d u p a s " g e t t i n g a h e a d , e x c e l l i n g , p r o v i n g one's self." It is also this – very human, very relatable – s i d e o f h e r , t h a t m a k e s Mother Cabrini so close to our hearts. For many migrants to the US, Mother Cabrini was a guiding light of hope. She embodied strength and resilience, in a way that many of the most powerful people of today can only dream of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Above, a scene from the movie and, below, an intense Cristiana Dell'Anna as Frances Xavier Cabrini (Photos courtesy of Angel Studios)

• Cover