Submitted by mar, May 8, 2008 13:48

I hope the exhibit talks about the Cuban priest Varela who saved Irish catholics in NYC:

In 1837, Varela was named Vicar General of the Diocese of New York, which then covered all of New York State and New Jersey. In this post, he played a major role in the way the American Church dealt with the tremendous influx of Irish refugees, that was just beginning at the time. His desire to assist those in need coupled with his gift for languages allowed him to master the Irish language in order to communicate more efficiently with many of the recent Irish arrivals. He was later named a Doctor of Theology by St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.

Nearly sixty years after his death in Florida, his body was returned to his homeland and laid to rest in the University of Havana's Aula Magna. Pope John Paul II beatified him. If canonized, he would be the first Cuban-born person to be honored on the altars of the Catholic church.

Currently, Félix Varela being considered for Canonization as a Catholic Saint.

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