Over the past week we Daughters of St Paul of the US/Toronto province have been engaged in a novena online Webathon to raise much needed funds to continue and develop our ministry of communicating God’s Word to all people using today’s modern media. Each day of the Journey of Discovery Webathon has a theme that reflects prayer and one of the many aspects of our apostolate. There is also a place where anyone can submit their prayer intentions which we take... Read more
When I was growing up, I had a friend who went to Catholic school. For several years, I would spend the night at her house for New Year’s Eve. We would try to stay up until midnight, but I never made it. What this public-school kid really liked about visiting her house, though, were the Catholic books and comic books she had. The most memorable of the comic books was, to me, the one about Bishop F.X. Ford of... Read more
There are just so many ways to go in writing a review of the true story of Merchant Marine Captain Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk Alabama. In 2008 his ship was boarded by four Somali pirates and the captain was taken hostage. The film is titled simply: “Captain Phillips.” As a film, director Paul Greengrass’ work is unembellished, dramatic and moving. As for Tom Hanks’ performance, it is so understated that it makes him completely believable. He is the... Read more
Anyone who is intrigued by mountain climbing and why people are willing to risk their lives to scale the highest peaks on the earth, will be intrigued by “The Summit.” In some ways it’s not that different from the 1998 IMAX documentary “Everest” that chronicled the disaster that Jon Krakauer wrote about in his best-seller “Into Thin Air” (at least two other films were made about this tragedy as well.) In a freak storm in 1996 eight climbers, some of... Read more
“Grace Unplugged”, a coming of age film with Christian themes and a killer soundtrack, opens in theaters tomorrow, October 4th. Sr. Rose reviews “Grace Unplugged” and talks with its director and stars: AJ Michalka, James Denton, Shawnee Smith, Kevin Pollock. To learn more and for showtimes visit www.graceunplugged.com. Read more
In September I had the honor to interview the actor Michael Harney. You have seen him in many films (Erin Brockovich) and television shows (Deadwood, NYPD Blue, Weeds) and now, “Orange is the New Black”. In this interview Michael talks about his vocation as an actor, husband, and father. He reveals a deep Catholic faith and passion for acting, as well as his struggles with alcoholism, joys as a father, and long-lasting ties to the Jesuits.Here is the first segment of... Read more
Because so many folks wanted a copy of my presentation from “Roots+Wings National Religious Education Conference” in Durban this weekend, I posted it on SlideShare.net. I hope the links work! If not you can google the videos with the title that is on the slide. It was a wonderful conference. About 330 Catholic school principals teachers and Religious Education teachers attended. Religious Education is not catechesis in South Africa which happens in the parish, but a study, from the... Read more
Here’s a link to a story on Yahoo about the first tweeted image of Carrie Underwood as Maria Von Trapp. It’s a live stage performance to air on December 5, 2013 on NBC. Will you watch it? DVR it? wait for the DVD or online streaming? My hunch is that most who love the story already will watch it. The question is: Can Carrie really yodel? Southern or British accent? Oh and Captain von Trapp is being played by... Read more
“The Watsons Go to Birmingham” 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central) Friday, The Hallmark Channel In time to mark the 50th anniversary of the Sept. 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., that killed four young girls (Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair), “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” made-for-television film will premiere on The Hallmark Channel. The events in the movie take place not even a month after the March... Read more
Yes, it is finished. The fifth volume in the series Lights, Camera Faith by my co-author Peter Malone, MSH and me. Click here to see the other volumes. And it’s not like Peter didn’t do his work: he was finished long ago. I was the one who got behind and involved in many other projects. And gave in to writer’s block when all it took was a clean desk and the will to do it! So the manuscript... Read more
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