The Christophers’ Jerry Costello weighs in on building a habit of prayer: “Let us pray.” We’ve gotten so used to hearing that phrase, and losing ourselves in the prayer that typically follows, that it’s almost second nature. Not literally thought-less, perhaps, but close to it. Maybe it’s time to do something about it, and the thought occurs that right now, as we mark the beginning of Lent, is the perfect occasion. Here at The Christophers, we tend to think of... Read more

Christopher Closeup Podcast – Guest: Daniel Murphy (Photo property of the Mets) As a boy, Daniel Murphy started playing baseball through the process of elimination. He realized he was too short for basketball, too slow for soccer, and he didn’t like to get hit so forget about football. Baseball, however, was a game for which he had a gift and a passion. After playing for Jacksonville University, Murphy was drafted by the New York Mets in 2006, and made his... Read more

Even though the new documentary about Mother Dolores Hart (the actress who worked with Elvis, then later felt called by God to become a nun) didn’t win an Oscar last night, this “20/20” segment about her won a Christopher Award 10 years ago. It’s still worth watching: Read more

Yesterday, I came across an article about Greg Plageman, an executive producer for the CBS series “Person of Interest” starring Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson and Taraji P. Henson. The article was about how he got started as a writer, but this is the quote that speaks volumes to me – and should to everyone else as well. Plageman said, “I was getting paid $17,000 teaching French in Louisiana. The kids in my class were talking about this TV show called... Read more

Christopher Closeup Podcast – Guest: Emilio Estevez “None of the characters went looking for God, but God found them.” Writer/Director/Producer Emilio Estevez recalled that reaction from a viewer when I interviewed him about his Christopher Award-winning movie, “The Way” (now available on DVD and Blu-ray). It tells the story of Tom (Martin Sheen), an American doctor whose son, Daniel (Emilio Estevez), dies while on the historical pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago (or Way of St. James) in France and... Read more

Thanks to everyone who entered our contest to win a DVD copy of the Christopher Award-winning film, “The Way.” I just got back to the office after interviewing writer/director/producer Emilio Estevez (check back tomorrow for the podcast), so I had one of my co-workers pick three winners out of a hat. They are: 1. Linda M 2. Kathleen 3. Jacqueline Puentes I’ll be emailing each of you to get your addresses so we can send the DVD your way (no... Read more

“The kernel of St. Therese’s teaching is often called ‘the little way,’ meaning that no Christian is too humble or too insignificant to follow it and no thought or action too negligible to infuse with love. In other words, God cherishes not only great actions of love, but also minor childlike ones. No matter what spiritual darkness you find yourself in, choose as your North Star a tender love of the persons that life’s contingencies have put next to you.... Read more

Though we won’t be announcing the full slate of this year’s Christopher Award winners until some time in March, we are ready to say that the film, “The Way,” directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, is one of the winners in the Film category this year! To celebrate that, we’ll be giving away three DVD copies of the movie on its official home video release date, Tuesday Feb. 21. To enter, you only have to do two things:... Read more