Adventures in Sainthood brings fun and sharing to OLV
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In honor of the visit of Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, OLV Basilica & National Shrine held a special kids day on July 12 celebrating saints.
The Father Baker Museum hosted Adventures in Sainthood, where guests met Gianna Emanuela, learned about the canonization process, and took part in making crafts.
Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard, vice postulator for the cause of Father Nelson Baker’s canonization, used the kids to demonstrate the four-step process to becoming a saint and explained his role in the process.
“I work with the pope and the people around him who advise him,” he said.
Choosing Simon Proulx, one of the young guests, as the first red-headed pope, Msgr. Burkard took the kids through the steps of declaring Buffalo’s native son a saint.
Msgr. Burkard also chose some young advisors and explained that when someone is thought to be holy enough, they go to the pope and ask this person to be considered for sainthood.
He then shared Father Baker’s positio, a position paper that speaks to his holiness that was presented to Pope John Paul II in 2003.
The kids presented the positio to Pope Simon, who declared Father Baker to be a “venerable” servant of God. Father Baker is currently at this step, looking for a miracle for his beatification.
In the scenario presented, Father Baker received the two needed miracles to be declared a saint.
“I think … sure,” said Pope Simon, agreeing to canonization.
“This is true for Gianna Molla when she became a saint. It’s true for Father Baker. Everybody for the last thousand years goes through the same process,” Msgr. Burkard said.
He explained that St. Gianna was thought to be holy because she loved her unborn daughter so much that she gave up her own life so her daughter could be born.
“Father Baker will be a saint because he loved the poor and he loved children,” he continued. “He took care of orphans. He took care of people who didn’t have families. We all think he’s already a saint, we just need to get the pope to say it.”
Msgr. David LiPuma, rector/pastor of OLV, presented a rosary to Gianna Emanuela that represented different aspects of the basilica, as well as a picture book of the basilica and a biography of Father Baker.
Stephanie Couchman explains why she chose Gianna as her confirmation name. The 16-year-old from Elma sees St. Gianna Molla, the patron of doctors and families, as an inspiration. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Everyone visiting OLV National Shrine & Basilica in Lackawanna wanted a photograph with Gianna Emanuela Molla. The daughter of St. Gianna Molla visited OLV on July 12. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Kids look over the positio of Venerable Nelson Baker during Adventures in Sainthood at OLV National Shrine & Bailica. The May 12 event was in honor of St. Gianna Molla’s daughter visiting the Lackawanna shrine. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Coloring was just one of the Adventures in Sainthood activities at OLV National Shrine & Bailica. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Madeline Langworthy displays the many cards made by children at OLV National Shrine & Basilica on July 12. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi)
“Gianna made it a point to say this is the most beautiful church she had been in in America. she could see the Italian influence,” said Sarah Lindstrom, coordinator of the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center.
Guests also heard from two mothers who named their daughters after St. Gianna, and one teenager who chose Gianna as her confirmation name.
Stephanie Couchman sees many similarities between herself and the patron of doctors, mothers and the unborn. She also finds inspiration in her.
“I picked her as my confirmation name because I like her story, and I also really want to be a physician when I’m older. She’s the patron saint of pediatricians and physicians. That’s what I want to do with my life,” said Couchman, 16. “I really enjoyed learning what she did for charity and the elderly, and I would love to do missions with my medical knowledge when I’m older, like she did.”
Other activities included a scavenger hunt through OLV Basilica, an art contest and art projects.
Madeline Langworthy supervised making cards for senior citizens, “so people who don’t usually get cards on Valentine’s Day or any other holiday could feel happy,” she said.
The kids made a big pile of cards to be distributed to nursing homes.
The art contest winners include Gianna Weber, Grace Caruso and Gianna Lynn Valone. “The fact that they were named Gianna is a coincidence only,” said Lindstrom.
