by BISMumbai Correspondent

A 30-minute film "Zatti, our Brother"  on the Salesian lay coadjutor nurse Blessed Artemide Zatti [1880-1951], is to be released on Thursday 11 June at 20:00 hrs, Argentine time, on the YouTube channel of the Argentine Salesian Bulletin. The original language is Spanish, with English, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and French subtitles.

This is the 1st Salesian cinematographic narrative work produced in Argentina, by the Argentinian Salesian Bulletin with the support of the 02 Salesian Provinces in Argentina, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid-Spain, and the Salesians of Don Bosco worldwide. This 30-minute film is a milestone for Salesian social communication in Argentina, and was scripted in 2018 by Father Ricardo Cámpoli [graduate in Production and Audiovisual Direction] with Father Pedro Narambuena. Filming began on 25 March 2019, with a dedicated group of 50 people including the Salesian Bulletin team, audiovisual technicians, and actors. 

Zatti dedicated himself for 40 years to the care of the poor and sick of Viedma, Rio Negro. He was the Director of one of the first hospitals in Patagonia, which bears his name. This film is expected to showcase the holiness and spirituality of Blessed Artemide Zatti, his experience as a nurse and religious. Today more than ever, as the world witnesses the importance and significance of health professionals, Zatti's life demonstrates that healthcare is an act of great love, and that in the face of adversity we must do all that is humanly possible, knowing that God never abandons us.

The film producers state, “This historical moment we are going through invites us to be creative and not to give up. The figure of the Salesian coadjutor Artemide Zatti takes on a particular dimension due to his charisma and attention to the poorest of the sick. And its history inspires us to face the difficulties with faith and hope." They further add, "May Zatti, the nurse of the poorest, accompany all those who suffer today from the Covid-19 crisis we are experiencing, and that we can all have stronger hope in our good God." 

MumbaiSalesians' Coordinator for the Coadjutors/Lay Brothers, Br. Royston Colaco had earlier circulated 02 articles on the life of Blessed Artemide Zatti.  One was 'A Short Life of Br. Zatti', detailing various aspects of his saintly life: his early years, his years as an aspirant, as a nurse/pharmacist/doctor, as a asaintly nurse of Patagonia, his virtues, perseverance, the difficulties faced, death, testimonials, and his model of holiness. Another article, presented by Br. Abraham M. Antony,  for the Fifth Salesian Brothers' Congress of South Asia in Hyderabad from 30 December 2003-03 January 2004, dealing with: Becoming Good Samaritans like Zatti, Becoming Attentive Disciples like Zatti, Becoming Prophetic Figures like Zatti, Becoming Christian Professionals and Religious Educators like Zatti. [both articles attached].

TejPrasarini Don Bosco Communications Matunga-Mumbai had published the "Zatti: A Biography" by Peter Lappin that narrates the life of Blessed Artemide Zatti [available free, for those interested, till stocks last].