“To the Wonder” yearning to feel life

April 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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  When writer/director Terrence Malick’s latest cinematic painting unfolds Neil (Ben Affleck) and Marina (Olga Kuryenko), playfully cross the causeway to Mont St. Michel at low tide. They visit the old monastery. Neil says nothing but Marina reflects on love and wonders what will come next. They go from France to Oklahoma, with Marina’s daughter, Tatiana (Tatiana Chiline). The house is new, empty, and though almost sterile, filled with light. Marina and Tatiana begin to adapt, but … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Faith and film, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Grace, Theology Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Where are the irises gone? An Easter poem with greetings from Sr. Rose

March 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Vincent Van Gogh

  Are the irises dead Have they lost their bloom? Are they shrunken and shriveled Are they gone so soon?   Is their deep purple less And their curl no more? Have the irises drooped Taking color from my world?   Or do they live In rich purple blues? Do they sand alert Catching spring’s early dew?   First the bold crocus breaks Hard winter’s dirt Then the scented hyacinth With springtime flirts   And my … [Read more...]

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Pope Francis speaks to journalists about his name, wanting a church that is poor, and role of media

March 16, 2013 By 1 Comment
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    This morning Pope Francis revealed why he chose the name Francis and then spoke encouraging words to 5,000 members of the press who have been covering the events of the last weeks since Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI announced his retirement. Joshua McElwee of the National Catholic Reporter has been in Rome covering the conclave and wrote the following this morning: Pope Francis: I would love a church that is poor. In another post NCR added the complete text of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Catechesis, Catholics in Media, Communication, Grace, History, media, Media analysis Tagged With: , , , , , , 1 Comment

New pope? Be the first to find out

March 13, 2013 By 1 Comment
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I just signed up! Now praying that the smoke will turn white during the day. We have a relay set up between the mom of one of our sisters on the east coast. Since the first burning will be about 10:30am on Wednesday, March 13 ROME time, it will be 5:30am ET, and 2:30am PT. So mom will text - we know she'll be prompt! But this website might work, too. Come Holy Spirit... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication, Faith formation, Grace, Spirituality and Media Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

Les Miserables: a conversation about what the movie means

February 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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      Here's is a conversation that I had with radio host Sharon DiCicca of Toronto's Radio Maria. Sharon is a wonderful host and producer and I think you will enjoy this show.  HMWN Radio Maria is a Canadian Catholic Radio Station based in Toronto. This is a link to the HMWN Radio Maria Audio Archives: Click here for the audio file: In conversation about the 2012 film"Les Miserables". -- Sharon DiCecco says:  -- -- To love another person is to see the face … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, art, Catechesis, Catholics in Media, Commerntary, Drama, Faith and film, Faith formation, Film Reviews, Grace, Musical, On Faith and Media, Popular Culture, religion, Sacraments, Social justice, Spirituality and Media, Sr Rose Faith and Media Tagged With: , , , , , Leave a Comment

Little Red Wagon the movie

January 14, 2013 By 2 Comments
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      As Hurricane Charlie bears down on Tampa, FL in 2004, 7 year-old Zach Bonner (Chandler Canterbury), his mom, Laurie (Anna Gunn), and big sister 16 year-old Kelley (Daveigh Chase), board up the house and lay in supplies to wait out the storm.  But the storm changes direction leaving the Bonners will a lot of bottled water. When Zach sees on television the devastation in Punta Gorde, FL and learns that 20,000 people are homeless and suffering, he suggests that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Film Reviews, Grace, New on DVD, Sacraments, Spirituality and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Want to be a film critic?

January 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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When I watch films for review I am attracted by two elements: relationships and mystery. Relationships between people, communities, or nations in this universe and beyond, or a mixture of any and all. The conflicts that provide the drama and drive the action can be resolved in so many ways but I am always looking at the human struggle and the human and Gospel values that underpin the resolution of the conflict or the denouement. I am always looking for grace – for the characters and for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Film History, Film Reviews, Grace, Media analysis, Pastoral Communication, Popular Culture, Reflections on life and grace Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

‘Les Misérables’ a fusion of heaven and earth, sight and sound

December 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway star as Jean Valjean and Fantine, respectively, in "Les Miserables," the big-screen adaptation of the long-running stage show. (Universal Studios)

  Millions of people have seen the musical "Les Misérables" since the English version premiered in London in 1985 and New York in 1987. Countless others have read the original 1862 novel by Victor Hugo or seen the more than 70 film adaptations in 15 languages. (My personal favorites are the 1978 British telefilm starring Richard Jordan and the 1998 feature film with Liam Neeson, both playing Jean Valjean.) The tale of the suffering poor of France in the years following the French … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Film Reviews, Grace, Non-violence, On Faith and Media, Theology Tagged With: , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

‘The Rise of the Guardians’ an inspiring fantasy mash-up

December 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
North (Alec Baldwin) welcomes Jack Frost (Chris Pine) in this scene from the animated movie "Rise of the Guardians." (CNS/DreamWorks Animation)

Although it took me some time to figure out what was going on and what Dreamworks' handsome, over-long film was trying to say, it became apparent about halfway through that I could easily make connections between the imaginative narrative and Christian beliefs. Seeing "Guardians" bears out the saying "You get out of a film what you bring to it" because you make meaning according to your own lens. The story opens with Jack Frost (the voice of Chris Pine) telling us how he came to be the spirit … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Commerntary, Fantasy, Grace, National Catholic Reporter, On Faith and Media, Popular Culture, religion, Spirituality and Media, Sr Rose Faith and Media, Theology Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Susan Boyle’s best yet: “Standing Ovation: the greatest songs from the stage” CD

November 23, 2012 By 4 Comments
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    In 2009 I wrote a blog post "What should Susan Boyle sing next?" I said in part: Some may think a Disney soundtrack should be Susan's first release, but I think she could sing"Send in the Clowns" that so many famous artists have voiced before: Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey. "Send in the Clowns" was created for the British actress Glynis Johns (bn. 1923) who played Desiree in Sondheim's 1973 "A Little Night Music" based on Ingmar Bergman's 1955 film, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Grace, Music, Musical, Popular Culture, Theater 4 Comments