The good news is EWTN will broadcast “A Man for Others: The Life of Father Roberto Balducelli,” on Jan. 29.
However, the Catholic cable channel will show the documentary at 5 a.m. Thursday, so Father Roberto admirers will have to set their DVRs to record the hour-and-a-half program, if they don’t think they’ll be awake before dawn.
EWTN reportedly first scheduled the program for a Sunday afternoon, but bumped that time for a rebroadcast of the Jan. 22 March for Life.
In its schedule, EWTN describes “A Man for Others,” this way:
“The life and work of Italian immigrant priest Father Roberto Balducelli of the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, who had been an inspiration to everyone who knew him, from victims he aided during World War II to the local Italian community.”
“A Man for Others” is directed by Nina Juliano, who grew up as a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua in Wilmington and attended Padua Academy.
Juliano included an interview with Father Balducelli in a previous piece she directed “The Essence of the Spirit,” an hourlong film that profiles a Philadelphia priest and nun, in addition to Father Balducelli.
When Juliano talked to The Dialog in 2013, she said her film centering on Father Balducelli might include an interview with Father Balducelli’s sister, Maria.
An Oblate priest for 77 years, Father Balducelli, a native of Italy, served as a priest and pastor of St. Anthony’s for 77 years. He died in August 2013 at 100.
