The Patrons Events in the Vatican, Great Britain and North America Great Britain Patrons’ Visits: January, February, and October 2005 2005 marked a very special milestone in the history of the Patrons, with the inauguration of three new chapters from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scotland. In February, the 12 founding members of the Great Britain chapter came to Rome for three days during which admired the ongoing restoration of the Pauline Chapel, thanks in large part due to their generosity. In October the lead donors of the Pauline Chapel project, Michael and Dorothy Hintze, visited Rome with their four children and friends including actor Kevin Spacey. On that occasion, H.E. Cardinal Szoka honored both Sir Michael and Lady Dorothy as Knight and Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Gregory. Oklahoma/Texas Chapter – March 14-16, 2005 In 2005 we also saw the birth of the Patrons from Oklahoma assembled by Mrs. Linda Tharp Duncan who became interested in the Patrons through her acquaintance with the late Father Richard Bourgeois. The patrons enjoyed their first taste of Rome with wine and hors d’oeuvres at the International Wine Academy, visiting the Pantheon and Tivoli gardens and culminating in the Vatican for a magical visit of the Sistine chapel where they marveled at the uniqueness of being there without the crowds that horde into the Chapel every day. Pennsylvania Chapter May 8-15, 2005 The highlight of the Pennsylvania Patrons to Rome was to see the recently restored panels of the Life of St. John the Baptist, by Andrea Sacchi. Dr. Francesco Buranelli, Director of the Vatican Museums, attended the reception to welcome the patrons and to reminisce on their many years of friendship with the Museum. The patrons also had the chance to admire their restoration projects entitled, the Colossus on the Nile, on display in the Braccio Nuovo. Dr. Paolo Liverani, Curator of Classical Antiquities spoke to the patrons about this important restoration. Louisiana Chapter – May 16-21, 2005 In May eight patrons from Louisiana made their way to Rome led by Dr. Rudy Ehrensing. Unfortunately, due to illness, Father Val McInnes was unable to join them They made their first stop to Capri and Anacapri where they enjoyed a magical Mediterranean vacation. They dined at the exclusive Circolo degli Scacchi in Rome, enjoyed a luncheon at the Casina of Pius IV with their gracious host, His Excellency Monsignor Sánchez Sorondo. Let us keep Fr. Val in our prayers. Philadelphia Chapter – September 18-21 “See how we've grown!” writes Joan Lucier. “Thanks in part to our own Jane Fortune, Founder and Chair of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC. The patrons enjoyed five magnificent days absorbing culture, along with surreal luncheons, dinners, wine-tastings and even golf and marble-cutting in Florence prior to our visit to Rome. If Florence opened its doors, Rome opened its heart to the Philadelphia Chapter. We were hosted at Villa Richardson on our inaugural evening, followed by a wonderful dinner which Fr. Allen arranged at a new Roman restaurant, Romilo. We traveled to Sermoneta (and back several centuries) to the Ninfa Gardens. A must-see on your list of must-see and do's. As always, the best is saved for last as we attended Mass in the beautiful Cappella of S. Marta, celebrated by H.E. Cardinal Szoka, followed by an evening Museum visit, cocktails in the Borgia apartments and dinner in the Octagonal Courtyard. I overheard: ‘I have to pinch myself to believe that I'm actually doing this.’”Alfred C. Lucier, M.D., Joan F. Lucier Illinois Chapter – October 2-8 In October, 43 Illinois patrons enjoyed five days of Vatican full immersion where they were able to see first hand their restored Montelparo Polyptych, a fourteenth century altarpiece, 13 seventeenth century Japanese processional banners or ‘Kakemono,’ as well as viewing their restoration projects for 2005: a series of bronze objects the former Vatican Library as well as the collection of gold-plated glass objects, followed by a detailed explanation by Dr. Guido Cornini, Curator of Decorative Arts in the Vatican Museums. A special thank you to Jim Kucienski and his wife Nancy for increasing the Illinois patrons membership from 47 to 74 people! California Chapter – October 9-14 The California patrons arrived in Italy in a small number, yet with sunny and enthused energy as they inaugurated their Rome-Egypt pilgrimage. With the pending date of arrival of Mr. Francis Rooney, new American Ambassador to the Holy See, Christopher Sandrolini and wife Seema greeted the Californians at Villa Richardson. The next thee days were filled with Vatican events, including an Audience with Benedict XVI. Florida Chapter and Fr. Hogan’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Fr. Terence Hogan celebrated 25 years of priesthood during the last week of October here in the Vatican with the company of his family and close friends. The celebration included a cocktail reception at the exclusive Circolo Degli Scacchi club, a memorable Mass celebrated in the Cardinal’s Chapel Santa Marta, a private tour of the museums at night followed by a candlelit dinner in the Braccio Nuovo, and finally a Wednesday Papal audience followed by a luncheon sheltered from the rain in the Pio Clementine Gallery. We wish Fr. Hogan Auguri! (Congratulations!). Also a warm congratulations on his parents’ 60th Wedding Anniversary. Individual Chapter events: Ohio Patrons of the Arts The newly formed Ohio Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts held their first membership enrollment on September 15, 2005. DC/Baltimore Patrons of the Arts held its annual dinner on November 19 at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington D.C. Nuncio, Archbishop Montalvo, greeted each guest individually and is always a charming and gracious host. His secretary Msgr. Maksymowisc, is also very helpful in planning this event each year. This year Cardinal McCarrick was able to join in greeting the members and guests during the reception. Currently, our chapter has 25 members registered for the May celebration. At the annual meeting all the current officers were re-elected for another year and the members voted to adopt the restoration of the last pair of shutters in the Raphael Stanza as its project for 2006. Oregon Patrons Sponsor Holbein Madonna Exhibition at Portland Art Museum The Oregon Patrons held their 3rd Annual Fall Brunch on November 6, 2005 at the Portland Art Museum. The centerpiece of this year’s event was a lecture about and tour of a Portland-exclusive exhibit from Germany, entitled Hesse: A Princely German Collection. The centerpiece of the Hesse collection is a jewel of the Northern European Renaissance, the famous Darmstadt Madonna, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in Basel in 1525. Thanks to the generosity of our Board Chair, Nani Warren, the Oregon Patrons Chapter is the title sponsor for the Darmstadt Madonna. Our special guest for the Fall Event was none other than our International Coordinator himself, Fr. Allen Duston. Kevin Kiely