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The Latest News March 2013 Donate To Our New Restoration Projects Online at Crowdrise.com! Everything helps, from ten dollars to a thousand. Give what you can to restore the amazing and ancient Sarcophagus and the Colorful Molds from St. John Lateran. Or read more about these projects here. February 2012 Upcoming Patrons Event - Prodigal Son Art Exhibit Come join us at The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis to attend the opening of the new Prodigal Son exhibit, featuring many themed works from the collection of Jerry Evenrud. A special reception with invited speakers will take place at 1:00pm on March 17, 2013. View the invitation. December 2012 Bernard Buffet Paintings Resotration Complete! The restoration of the Bernard Buffet paintings that our chapter adopted last year is complete - and with money to spare! The beautiful Veronica and Nativity paintings were viewed by our chapter as they were being restored when we visited the Vatican last October. See images from our visit and learn more about this completed project. November 2012 Announcing the 2012 Annual Dinner - The Event of the Season Our annual dinner has been scheduled for Thursday, November 29 2012 at I Nonni Restaurant in Lilydale. Father Mark Haydu, international director, and the Minnesota Board of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums invite you to celebrate our past accomplishments, update you on our current restoration projects, provide highlights of our recent Patron’s trip to Rome, and reveal our plans for the future. Read the invitation here, or RSVP our donations page. October 2012 2012 Rome Trip a Tremendous Success The MN/ND chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums joined forces with members from the Carolinas chapter and experienced a once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind trip of Rome, the Vatican Museums, Tivoli, and so much more. Both chapters were able to witness their adopted projects as they were being restored, and they were also treated to a VIP tour of the Vatican Museums, their restoration laboratories, the Vatican's secret archives, and even the Tower of Winds. Another Restoration Financed and Underway! The MN/ND chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums has taken on the financing of another project, which has already begun. "Nativity" and "St. Veronica" by famed Expressionist painter Bernard Buffet are currently being restored in the Vatican restoration laboratories. Read more about this exciting project here. August 2012 Deadline for Fall Italy Trip There are still openings for our wonderful fall trip to Rome and the Amalfi coast. Please be sure to register before our deadline of August 25. If you are hesitant, don’t be. It will be a great trip and you will have the time of your life. So, just do it! July 2012 MN/ND Chapter News: Our Largest Donation to Date Our MN/ND chapter has received its largest gift to date. Read all about it. After visiting St. Paul Outside the Walls, Jack and Cathy Farrell donated 100,000 Euros to the development of a new museum under the auspices of the Vatican Museums. The total cost of the extended project is about 1,000,000 dollars. We are extremely grateful to Jack and Cathy and hope that other generous patrons will follow their great example. June 2012 International PAVM News: Gathering in Brussels On June 28, Madame Mimi Solvay hosted the first event of the newly founded Belgian Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. Members of the Belgian government, European Parliamentarians, business leaders and members of old aristocratic families enjoyed dinner after a presentation by Father Haydu, international director of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. Several members of the MN/ND chapter who happened to be in Belgium at the time attended the event. April 2012 National PAVM News: National Board Meeting The National board, consisting of the chairs of local chapters gathered in Chicago for their annual meeting. During these events, local chapter leaders are able to share best practices and plan for the future. An ad hoc committee was formed to prepare a business plan for our organization with a goal of tripling of our membership over the next five years. March 2012 International PAVM News: Five Million Club Since the beginning of this year The Vatican Museums have joined the prestigious Five Million Club of World Class museums. Together with the Louvre and the British Museums, The Vatican Museums had more than 5,000,000 visitors in 2011. This means that about 14,000 people visited the museums on any given day. February 2012 PAVM Expands to New Mexico Members of the Minnesota and North Dakota chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums will be visiting Albuquerque and Santa Fe in February to assist in establishing a new chapter. If you know anyone who might be interested in becoming a patron in New Mexico or anywhere else, do not hesitate to contact us. December 2011 International Director Visits Minnesota Fr. Mark Haydu, International Director of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, visisted the Minnesota and North Dakota chapter in December for our annual dinner and several other events planned especially for his visit. During his visit, our chapter provided the first payment toward our latest restoration project: two paintings by contemporary artist Benard Buffet. More information about this exciting project will be forthcoming. October 2011 The Tree of Life, a Fascinating Evening with Bill Pohlad Our dinner and discussion with film producer and patron Bill Pohlad about his recent film the Tree of Life was enlightening, illuminating, entertaining, and expectedly memorable. The patrons would like to thank Bill and his wife Michelle for their generous involvement as well as Nancy McGlynn Phelps and Jim Phelps for opening up their home for this marvelous event. If you'd like to be involved in future events like this one, then become a patron today! September 2011 Another Restoration Complete! The latest restoration project financed by the Minnesota/North Dakota chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums is complete! All fourteen paintings of the "Via Crucis" by the contemporary painter Previati have been restored to their original splendor. The patrons look forward to seeing these restored masterpieces in person when they visit Rome in April of 2012. Until then, you can read more about the project here. August 2011 Patrons Garden Party a Rollicking Good Time The Patrons enjoyed a beautiful Spring evening at the home of Deborah Korluka while Johan van Parys unveiled the plans for the 2012 trip to Rome, Italy and the Vatican. The location was breathtaking, the guests were enchanting, and the presentation was captivating. Special thanks to Deborah Korluka for orchestrating an incredible event amidst the beautiful surroundings, replete with horses, gyros, and a 300 year old tree. Her generous hospitality was greatly appreciated, and the trip to the Amalfi Coast and Rome in 2012 looks incredible. For more information about becoming a patron or joining us for the 2012 trip, contact Johan van Parys. December 2010 Collaboration between PAVM and MIA At the invitation of the board of the MN/ND chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Eike D. Schmidt, James Ford Bell Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture and head of the Department of Decorative Arts, Textiles & Sculpture at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts addressed the members of PAVM during the December 2nd Annual Dinner on new acquisitions and recent restoration initiatives at the MIA. His presentation included descriptions and awe-inspiring images of many of the museums latest aquisitions, a fascinating account of why these peices are significant and how they were acquired, as well as his own personal musings on acquiring art and the importance of proper restoration. October 2010 Patrons Visit the Dead Sea Scrolls and the St. John's Bible The Patrons experienced an exclusive tour of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit and the St. John's Bible at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Dr. Ed Fleming was our expert docent for the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, and Jim Triggs explained the St. John's Bible, so we enjoyed a guided tour and exposition on the oldest hand-written sacred texts in the world, as well as the newest. A reception followed in the Science Museum's Argon Room, sponsored by the St. John's Bible Heritage Program. Tenth Anniversary Rome Trip Announced The MN/ND chapter of the Patrons of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums announces their 10th anniversary trip to Italy and The Vatican. This trip-of-a-lifetime will celebrate the many restoration accomplishments of our chapter and will inaugurate our most recent initiative: the construction of a new laboratory for the restoration of hundreds of marble sculptures in the collection of The Vatican Museums. Click here for more information about the trip or to download the itinerary. March 2010 At the invitation of Archbishop Nienstedt, the MN/ND Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums and The Basilica of Saint Mary, Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo, President of the Governatorato of Vatican City State and of the Vatican Museums will be visiting the Twin Cities in June of 2010. A longtime church diplomat, Pope Benedict XVI named then Archbishop Lajolo to this position in 2006. Three years later archbishop Lajolo was created a Cardinal by His Holiness. Among his many responsibilitie as president of the Governatorato, His Eminence also oversees the work of the Vatican Museums. It is in this position that he will be visiting MN. His visit coincides with the beginning of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the MN/ND chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. The Cardinal is grateful for all the precious art and artifacts in the museums that have been restored thanks to the generosity of people from MN and ND, and he is looking forward to our continued and expanded support. The Cardinal’s calendar will be quite filled when he is in the Twin Cities June 3-6, 2010. There will be public and private events. One of the highlights of his visit will be a public lecture on the history and the work of the Vatican Museums. This lecture will be co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and will be held in the Museums auditorium. Dr. Kaywin Feldman, director and president of the MIA says that “the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is delighted to collaborate with The Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums and The Basilica of Saint Mary in offering this timely lecture by His Eminence Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo. The Vatican Museums contain some of humanity's greatest treasures. His Eminence's lecture promises to be insightful and stimulating for our museum-loving community in the Twin Cities.” This lecture will be open to the public at a nominal cost. Another highlight will be the 9:30am Solemn Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi celebrated by His Eminence at The Basilica of Saint Mary on Sunday June 6. The Cathedral Choir and select other musicians will provide the music, and a reception will follow. Click here for the full schedule of events and an invitation to attend. December 2009 The “Via Crucis” by Gaetano Previati has been announced as the new project to be adopted by the MN/ND Patrons. Representing the fourteen Stations of the Cross this series of fourteen paintings is in great need of restorations. Restoration of each painting costs $ 1,500 dollars. Eight of the Stations have already been adopted by individual patrons for restoration in honor of loved ones. We are looking for seven more people to adopt one of the Stations. A first payment has been made to The Vatican so the work can begin. Learn more about this project by clicking here. January 2009 The exhibit “Vatican Splendors” held in the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul this past fall was a great success. With more than 100.000 people visiting the exhibit it became the best attended exhibit ever held in this venue. People from all over the state and neighboring states were introduced to the riches of the Vatican collections and the Catholic Church. Two pieces that had been restored by MN/ND Patrons were part of the exhibit. Johan van Parys, our chair gave several interviews on the work of the Patrons in the wake of this exhibit. View a newscast about the exhibit here. November 2008 Cardinal Lajolo Gathers Patrons Leaders Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo, Governor of Vatican City State, is presiding over a meeting of the leaders of the fifteen United States chapters of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums in Los Angeles, California, November 6th through 8th. The Minnesota and North Dakota Chapter Raises over $10,000 for a New Art Restoration Project On Friday, October 17th 2008, the Minnesota and North Dakota chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums raised over $10,000 toward the restoration of a new project dedicated to the memory of the parents of Dr. Johan van Parys. The funds raised will go toward the creation of a new restoration laboratory. The next fundraising event to benefit this cause will take place at the Annual Patrons Dinner on December 4th, 2008, and we hope to complete this project within the next two years. September 2008 Vatican Arts Exhibit in St. Paul An exhibit of Vatican art and artifacts is on display at the Minnesota History Center September 26th through January 11th, 2008. This exciting exhibit features actual art pieces restored by the Minnesota and North Dakota chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. You can purchase tickets by visiting the official Vatican Splendors website. August 2008 Another Project Completed The MN/ND Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums is announcing that they will complete payment for the restoration of the marble chimney in the Room of the Mysteries in the Borgia Apartments. This last payment for the restoration will be presented to Father Mark Haydu, International Director of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums during the Chapter’s sixth annual trip to the Vatican (Sept 26-Oct. 2, 2008). July 2008 Announcing Our Official Website The Minnesota and North Dakota Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums is proud to launch their official website, which will be the up-to-date resource for information about all the events, projects, and trips we are currently planning. Check back often for updates, and expect more exciting website features and online materials to be added in the coming months. May 2007 Announcing Our Official Website In May 2007, Johan van Parys, chair of the MN/ND Chapter and Mark Wyss, former secretary were among a handful invited guests when Pope Benedict XVI made an official visit to the Governatorato on the Vatican to dedicate a new organ. Read more about the exciting meeting.