By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-19 22:40:55 | Updated at 2024-11-21 13:21:58
1 day ago
CV NEWS FEED // The National Eucharistic Congress, Inc. is collaborating with several partners to bring to life a new documentary about the Church’s first millennial saint, Blessed Carlo Acutis.
The film “Roadmap to Reality: Carlo Acutis and Our Digital Age” delves into Blessed Carlo Acutis’ life, his devotion to the Eucharist, and his wisdom for navigating the digital age, according to a November 19 press release from the partnering organizations.
The National Eucharistic Congress this week announced its collaboration with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, and Castletown Media in the production, which will be released in the spring of 2025.
In the press release, CEO of Castletown Media and the film’s director Tim Moriarty celebrated the partnerships and the unique strengths brought by the organizations. He explained that the National Eucharistic Revival, inspired by Blessed Carlo, seeks to renew Catholics’ belief in the Real Presence and deepen their relationship with Christ, while the McGrath Institute addresses the unique challenges Catholic families face in the digital age.
“With these collaborations, we’re poised to deepen the impact of our film, inspiring Catholics to embrace the challenges of the digital age with faith and wisdom,” Moriarty said.
Castletown Media is known for producing the acclaimed Catholic documentary “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist” and the Knights of Columbus’ film “Mother Teresa: No Greater Love.”
Producer Jim Wahlberg said in the press release, “Carlo’s message is clearly resonating with people from all walks of life. Through partnerships with organizations focused on evangelization and education, we aim to present Carlo as a guide for navigating the digital world.”
Brett Robinson, associate director for outreach at the McGrath Institute, highlighted the Church’s responsibility to lead young people trapped in “phone addiction” toward deeper human connection and spiritual freedom.
He said, “‘Roadmap to Reality’ provides a model in the person of Carlo Acutis, who did not hide from technology but knew how to order it in a life that was governed first and foremost by a deep devotion to our Lord.”
NEC President Jason Shanks emphasized the importance of the project to the National Eucharistic Revival’s Year of Mission, calling “Roadmap to Reality” a key initiative during this time of missionary outreach.
As CatholicVote reported, the National Eucharistic Revival has called for participation in the historic evangelization effort “Year on Mission,” urging Catholics to share the Faith, and in particular evangelize about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The film collaboration was unveiled following a preview of the film at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Plenary Assembly on November 11. Bishops in attendance viewed clips of the documentary and learned about its role in promoting Eucharistic devotion nationwide.
Chair of the NEC, Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, who appears in the film, described Acutis as a “model for the kind of Eucharistic missionary we, as bishops, hope every Catholic will become through the Eucharistic Revival.”
Updates on the film can be found here.
