Matignon Student Travels to Vatican City

An Eye on the Vatican Museums: Matignon students receive trip of a lifetime.
By David A. Sullivan, PhD ’66

“I am truly blessed to go to Matignon High School (Cambridge, MA), where such a trip is possible.”

So said Angelina Kemmett, a sophomore from Somerville, who with Junior Patrick Harris of Woburn, had just returned from a private guided tour through the Vatican Museums with a special focus on the visually impaired multi-sensory exhibit. They had both won an essay competition at Matignon, an independent and co-educational Catholic high school (http://www.matignon.org), where students were asked earlier this year “Why is it important for the visually impaired to “see” the art in the Vatican Museums?” Eight judges from around the world selected the two winners, with the award a trip with two chaperones to the Vatican Museums.

The idea for this contest originated with Dr. David A. Sullivan of Harvard Medical School and Schepens Eye Research Institute, who is a Matignon alumnus and a member of the International Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums (http://www.vaticanpatrons.it). The goals were to enrich the lives of Matignon students, increase Matignon’s global recognition, and help the International Patrons develop relationships with Catholic Schools. The International Patrons, explained co-Founder Amy Gallant Sullivan, “are dedicated to the preservation and the perpetuation of arts, antiquities and sculptures in the Vatican Museums with a special focus on making art accessible to all, even those with disabilities (e.g. blindness) who otherwise would not be able to participate.”

“This trip was life-altering,” said Harris, “and I learned about how all people can “see” the awe-inspiring artwork in the Vatican Museums.” One of the chaperones, Susan Lenn Johnson, a Matignon theology teacher and campus minister, stated “I had never before considered the importance of accessibility of artwork for the visually impaired. I feel like this opened a whole new way for me to think of both artwork and our abilities. I can already recognize myself looking at accessibility to many things in our city differently too.”

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” said Christopher Martin, the other chaperone and Chief Advancement Officer at Matignon. And most importantly, said Sullivan, this initiative addressed the missions of both Matignon and the International Patrons: Matignon is committed to promoting academic excellence and student growth; and the International Patrons are dedicated to bringing together all individuals who have an appreciation for art, history and restoration.

If you would like to become an International Patron of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, and help support future programs like this, please visit our website for instructions.