by Katie Vasquez
It was the largest and deadliest conflict in human history, but a new traveling exhibit is telling a side of World War II that not many people know about.
“It’s a museum showing what the city of Assisi and the Bishop of Assisi did during the holocaust and helping thousands of jews and making sure that they wouldn’t get killed,” said Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media Group.
The Pave the Way foundation, an organization that looks to build bridges between faiths, helped to start the exhibit on Assisi’s Museum of Memory.
It was brought to the Diocese of Brooklyn by Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media group, who spoke to principals about bringing it to schools.
Principal Elizabeth Reilly at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic academy was immediately interested.
“Italian culture is celebrated here very much as is our catholic identity,” said Elizabeth Reilly, Principal at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy, “we pride ourselves in this school on teaching religion and having that feeling of community and faith.”
“It gives them a better appreciation for, you know, the efforts and the work of people who are the unsung heroes,” said St Francis of Assisi Pastor, Monsignor Ralph Maresca.
And students were excited to see this untold part of history.
“Even though it is a sad topic, it’s pretty interesting to understand, like what was going on through people’s minds and like why they were doing this and also like how they countered the negatives to this and made it a positive in life,” said 8th grader, Christian Duran.
The kids say the actions of the Catholics in the hill town in central Italy to save the Jewish people, from hiding them in monasteries and convents to making fake ids, make the students feel proud of their faith.
“There were a lot of people that basically dedicated their lives to helping others and that makes me feel like I’m part of a religion that does a lot for other people and is very beneficial to society,” said 7th grader, Arianna Soberal.
These pictures portray the bravery of a people and inspiring the next generation.