Daughter Of Catholic Saint To Open Religious Center In Springfield

The daughter of a Roman Catholic saint plans to open an international center in Springfield in tribute to her late mother.
 
Dr. Gianna Molla will establish the Molla Center for Family and Life next to the site on Laverna Road where the Springfield Catholic Diocese is opening the Evermode Institute at the former Hospital Sisters of St. Francis convent and chapel.
 
Dr. Molla’s mother, now known as St. Gianna, was pregnant with her in 1962 when she developed life-threatening complications. She refused an abortion and told doctors to save the child instead of herself. St. Gianna died about a week after her daughter was born, and her sacrifice was one of the factors in her sainthood in 1994.
 
Dr. Molla says she chose Springfield for the new center in part because of Bishop Thomas John Paprocki’s devotion to pro-life principles.
Dr. Molla explains more in this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xh256qJ1XY