Mount St. Mary’s offers screening of movie on Mother Cabrini, champion of immigrants

If you’re looking for a little inspiration during these times of divisive discourse on immigration, Mount St. Mary’s University has just the opportunity for you – especially if you are a movie lover.

The university in Emmitsburg presents a screening March 21 of the award-winning 2024 film “Cabrini.”

Cristiana Dell’Anna stars in a scene from the movie “Cabrini.” (OSV News photo/Angel Studios)

The film tells the story of Francesca Cabrini, a visionary leader and future saint who defied the odds to advocate for the poor, immigrants and marginalized communities. Immediately after the 7 p.m. screening in Knott Auditorium, alumnus Zachary DeCarlo (class of 1982) will lead a discussion on how St. Frances Cabrini’s legacy can inspire viewers to create change in their lives and communities.

Admission to the 500-seat auditorium for “Cabrini Film Screening: A Story of Courage, Hope and the Power to Make a Difference” is free and open to the public.

Mount St. Mary’s chaplain Father Justin Gough said it should be an inspirational event.

“The story of Mother Cabrini is very much relevant,” Father Gough said. “I’m told the film really inspires people to think about the service that they offer to God and the community. Mother Cabrini shows us the example of herself being an immigrant, coming to the United States and working with immigrants to try to make sure that they had all they needed from education to catechists to hospital care. She was concerned about the whole of the person and experiencing what they experienced.

“I think (St. Cabrini) is a wonderful example for us, and very timely,” said Father Gough, who took over as chaplain at the Mount in July. “Everybody and anybody is welcome to share Mother Cabrini’s story with us.”

Mother Francesca Cabrini was the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Dedicated to improving the lives of immigrants, she became the first American citizen to be canonized (by Pope Pius XII in 1946). St. Cabrini’s legacy of service, education and compassion continues to inspire. During her life (1850-1917), she worked to establish schools, hospitals and orphanages.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is depicted in a stained-glass window at the saint’s shrine chapel in the Washington Heights section of New York City. (OSV News photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Father Gough said Mount St. Mary’s President Dr. Gerard Joyce came up with the idea for the screening after striking up a friendship with DeCarlo, one of the producers of the film.

“I am honored to return to my alma mater to share our impactful film ’Cabrini,’” DeCarlo said in a Mount St. Mary’s media release. “We’ve had the privilege of screening the film at dozens of high schools and colleges, and the response has been incredible. The depth of the follow-up discussions with students has been amazing – their insights and reflections show how deeply the story resonates with them.”

DeCarlo graduated from the Mount with a bachelor’s degree in history. His wife, Mary Wolfington DeCarlo, is a 1983 graduate of the Mount.

DeCarlo, founder and president of ZCD Advisors (a technology consulting firm), became involved as a producer of the film through his father-in-law, J. Eustace Wolfington (executive producer of ”Cabrini”).

Directed by Alejandro Monteverde (“Bella,” “Sound of Freedom”), the film features a performance by Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna as Cabrini; two-time Oscar nominee and three-time Emmy winner John Lithgow as the mayor; Screen Actors Guild and Emmy winner David Morse as Archbishop Michael Corrigan; and Oscar nominee Giancarlo Giannini as Pope Leo XIII.

“Cabrini” is billed by its producers as a “story of resilience, leadership and social change that speaks to the heart of today’s challenges.”

For more information, on the screening, email j.a.gough@msmary.edu.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

Also see:

Review: https://catholicreview.org/movie-review-cabrini/

Column: https://catholicreview.org/cabrini-does-extraordinary-job-of-bringing-saint-to-life/

Story: https://catholicreview.org/subject-of-a-new-film-mother-cabrini-left-native-italy-to-serve-u-s-immigrants/

Click play below to listen to a discussion of the film by Catholic Review Radio.