A Cincinnati Saint

In June 2014 the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati announced the approval of cause for canonization for S. Blandina Segale. In the nine years since, S. Blandina’s cause for sainthood has continued to move forward, earning her the title ‘Servant of God’ and awaiting confirmation of miracles attributed to her intercession. Her story and legacy continues to gain strength and interest. most recently Cincinnati local 12 aired the documentary “Sister Blandina Segale: A Cincinnati Saint,” debuting Dec. 9, 2022 in Cincinnati. In its teaser, the station advertised: “Known for confronting outlaws and injustice, educating children and caring for the sick, S. Blandina served as a missionary, building schools and hospitals in the Wild West. In Cincinnati she helped immigrants adjust to American life.”

The documentary was the brainchild of producer Patti mcGeever, a friend of the Sisters of Charity Community, who began thinking about making a half-hour special about S. Blandina while working from home during the CoVID-19 pandemic. “There is so much to S. Blandina’s story and I didn’t think people here knew enough about her – or knew about her at all,” mcGeever explains. “It’s hard not to want to know more about a nun who stands up to the notorious Billy the Kid! Add to that, that the social institution she and her sister founded in Cincinnati (Santa maria Community Services) is still going strong 125 years later – and the parish (San Antonio) she helped found 100 years later. So I pitched a 30-minute special on her because if she’s canonized, she will be a Cincinnati Saint, despite the Diocese of Santa Fe opening the cause. Instead, our general manager, Jon lawhead, asked that we make it a one-hour special. I would have kicked myself from here to eternity had I not pitched it and it ended up on someone else’s air. or not done at all.”

She enlisted Good morning Cincinnati anchor Bob Herzog to host, and their one caveat: to make the show appealing to those who aren’t Catholic. The story took them not only to the Cincinnati community, but also to New mexico and Colorado. “I filled the hour with tales from the Wild West, her local accomplishments and a miracle that was investigated by the Vatican,” she explained. The team from local 12 researched her life by tracking her journey from Cincinnati to the Santa

Fe Trail and back to Cincinnati. They interviewed numerous individuals out West and in Cincinnati to show viewers how S. Blandina’s actions impacted the lives of so many others. Included amongst them were popular restaurant chain owner Buddy laRosa, who knew Sister personally; Allen Sanchez, petitioner of Sister’s cause for sainthood; and Peso Chavez, the private investigator who researched the stories she told in her journal and letters. In addition, Pam ehrman Kent, a woman from Delhi, ohio who, after being given a bleak sentence from doctors, now credits her continued good health to S. Blandina.

This amazing story immediately captured the hearts and intrigue of all who watched. The motherhouse has received a multitude of requests from interested individuals for more information on S. Blandina, particularly as it relates to her novena. mcGeever says her team also received an overwhelmingly positive response, adding, “I feel like we introduced S. Blandina to a whole new audience. I think the miracle segment gives people hope, showcases the power of prayer and shows gratitude for an answered prayer.”