This summer, Finding Fatima introduces one of the most important Marian apparitions in Church history to a new generation – and in a new and unique way. Producers Ian and Dominic Higgins have created a docudrama that follows up their highly acclaimed feature film “The 13th Day” with a fresh and complete look at Our Lady’s appearances to apparitions to Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Finding Fatima is available now from Ignatius Press.
The film uses archival footage and dramatic reenactments to take viewers to that Blessed time and place, and the Higgins include original interviews with Fatima experts and relatives of eyewitnesses to tell the entire story of Our Lady of Fatima and world events related to her appearances throughout 1917 – including a truly miraculous event that occurred almost 30 years later halfway around the world.
With high production values and a beautiful look, the film covers all of the crucial details about the importance of the 1917 appearances and messages of Our Lady in Fatima – messages or prayer, penance and conversion that are desperately needed today.
“As much as I love watching documentaries, I was just going to give this a quick perusal, but I got hooked and couldn’t stop watching,” said Sr. Helena Burns in a review posted on her “Hell Burns” blog. “‘Finding Fatima’ could be called ‘Fatima Then and Now’ because it brings us up to speed on the Fatima story as it continues to unfold in our present day.”
This week marks the 84th anniversary of one of the most powerful of Our Lady’s Fatima apparitions. It was during her July 13th appearance that she showed the three peasant children a horrifying view of Hell; and she foretold the end of World War I, the promise of a second, more devastating world war, and the spread of Communism throughout the world. She also provided the Third Message, which Blessed Pope John Paul II came to believe foretold the 1981 attempt on his life.
Fatima experts call it one of the two most powerful of her apparitions – the other being the October 1917 “Miracle of the Sun,” which also included apparitions of St. Joseph and the child Jesus, in his arms, blessing the world.
“Even now there is tribulation,” Pope Benedict XVI said in discussing Fatima, “in every conceivable form, and power threatens to trample down faith. Even now, then, there is a need for the answer about which the Mother of God spoke to the children of Fatima.”
Finding Fatima is a 90-minute film that emphasizes those feelings and will encourage all who see it to take heed of Our Lady’s critical messages from Fatima. The DVD is produced in widescreen format with English narration, and includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Reel Faith set to Kick off Second Season
Where can Catholic moviegoers turn for reliable information on current films from a faithful Catholic perspective?
BROOKLYN, NY (June 22, 2011) - This Summer, they can tune into REEL FAITH, a weekly, half-hour movie review program, now in its second season, airing exclusively on New Evangelization Television (NET), which is available to cable viewers in New York on Cablevision channel 30 and Time Warner Cable channel 97. It is also always available online at www.netny.net/reelfaith/.
Returning as co-hosts are David DiCerto, former film critic of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting, and Steven Greydanus, film critic for the National Catholic Register and creator of decentfilms.com.
Each week, REEL FAITH takes a look at Hollywood’s biggest films, as well as smaller independent releases, all “through a Catholic lens.” With the help of film scholar Fr. Robert Lauder, REEL FAITH also introduces viewers to motion picture classics from the Vatican’s “Great Films” list, and a new feature for the coming season highlighting “Movies with a Message.”
“Movies are much more than mere entertainment; they have the power to influence ideas and attitudes,” says DiCerto. “I’m thrilled to be able to provide Catholic moviegoers – especially parents – with a voice they can trust, in a way that’s fresh, informative and, hopefully, entertaining.”
“Catholic film reviewing has been around for as long as the movies themselves, but we've been slow to bring it to the screen, which is ideal for a visual medium like movies. The Church has always been aware of the power of images, and on Reel Faith we can interact with the movies we're reviewing in a way you can't do in writing. It's almost a more Catholic way of reviewing movies.” said Steven Greydanus.
Movies being reviewing this season include highly anticipated sequels like “Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides,” “Transformers 3,” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2;” big-budget action-adventures like “Thor,” “Captain America,” and “Cowboys and Aliens;” and family fare like “Cars 2” and “Kung Fu Panda 2.”
Labeled the “Catholic Siskel and Ebert,” the duo see REEL FAITH as an innovative opportunity for evangelization and spreading the Gospel message, while encouraging greater film literacy among Catholics, using a format that appeals to mainstream viewers.
Launched in 2008, NET is available to more than 1.8 million homes throughout New York City on Cable Vision channel 30 and Time Warner Cable channel 97, as well as streaming online at www.netny.net.
BROOKLYN, NY (June 22, 2011) - This Summer, they can tune into REEL FAITH, a weekly, half-hour movie review program, now in its second season, airing exclusively on New Evangelization Television (NET), which is available to cable viewers in New York on Cablevision channel 30 and Time Warner Cable channel 97. It is also always available online at www.netny.net/reelfaith/.
Returning as co-hosts are David DiCerto, former film critic of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting, and Steven Greydanus, film critic for the National Catholic Register and creator of decentfilms.com.
Each week, REEL FAITH takes a look at Hollywood’s biggest films, as well as smaller independent releases, all “through a Catholic lens.” With the help of film scholar Fr. Robert Lauder, REEL FAITH also introduces viewers to motion picture classics from the Vatican’s “Great Films” list, and a new feature for the coming season highlighting “Movies with a Message.”
“Movies are much more than mere entertainment; they have the power to influence ideas and attitudes,” says DiCerto. “I’m thrilled to be able to provide Catholic moviegoers – especially parents – with a voice they can trust, in a way that’s fresh, informative and, hopefully, entertaining.”
“Catholic film reviewing has been around for as long as the movies themselves, but we've been slow to bring it to the screen, which is ideal for a visual medium like movies. The Church has always been aware of the power of images, and on Reel Faith we can interact with the movies we're reviewing in a way you can't do in writing. It's almost a more Catholic way of reviewing movies.” said Steven Greydanus.
Movies being reviewing this season include highly anticipated sequels like “Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides,” “Transformers 3,” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2;” big-budget action-adventures like “Thor,” “Captain America,” and “Cowboys and Aliens;” and family fare like “Cars 2” and “Kung Fu Panda 2.”
Labeled the “Catholic Siskel and Ebert,” the duo see REEL FAITH as an innovative opportunity for evangelization and spreading the Gospel message, while encouraging greater film literacy among Catholics, using a format that appeals to mainstream viewers.
Launched in 2008, NET is available to more than 1.8 million homes throughout New York City on Cable Vision channel 30 and Time Warner Cable channel 97, as well as streaming online at www.netny.net.
“Bible App” for Mac OS X on Mac App Store
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, (June 1, 2011)—The Divine Office Catholic Ministry in partnership with Surgeworks, a Salt Lake City-based application developer and graphical interaction design firm, has announced a new app for the Apple Mac App Store based on 20 versions of the Bible in six different languages.
The Bible App features scriptures in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Croatian. Users can access twenty English, Latin and Greek versions of the Bible:
- American Standard Version (ASV)
- American King James Version (AKJV)
- Darby Bible (DBY)
- Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision (DRB)
- King James Version (KJV)
- World English Bible (WEB)
- Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
- (Latin) Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Latin Vulgate)
- (Greek) New Testament 1550
- (Greek) New Testament 1894
In addition, the Bible App allows users to compare multiple translations in different windows. An internal search engine searches for a specific keyword, an exact phrase or a passage using a standard notation (such as John 1:1-18). Users can highlight verses and access all selections from convenient, dedicated screens where searches and highlights are organized by bible version and date.
“We are extremely pleased to bring the Bible app to our devoted community of Catholics and Christians around the world. It is the perfect complement to the Divine Office Catholic Ministry’s suite of prayer apps for Mac computers and Apple iOS mobile devices,” Dane Falkner of Divine Office commented.
The Divine Office Catholic Ministry currently offers several apps:
- Bible App for Mac —20 searchable versions of the Holy Bible in 6 languages
- Divine Office—complete resource for praying the Liturgy of the Hours, available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and Mac
- Prayers for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch—reference of Catholic prayers in several languages
- Divine Office: Morning Prayer (Lauds), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Night Prayer (Compline) for iPhone and iPod Touch—audio Liturgy of the Hours
- The Bible App is scheduled for release in the Mac App Store on June 1st, 2011.
This treasury of prayers, now released on Kindle, will help you go to the Lord with courage and pray to receive God's grace.
Sometimes, the Pope said of prayers and devotions, one goes to the Lord "to ask something for someone;" one asks for a favor and then goes away. "But that," he warned, "is not prayer," because if "you want the Lord to bestow a grace, you have to go with courage and do what Abraham did, with that sort of tenacity."
This comprehensive treasury of Catholic prayer includes everyday prayers, devotionals, how to pray the rosary, litanies, the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic prayers, prayers to prepare for confession, prayers to the saints, Marian prayers, family prayers, and more.
The Bible App features scriptures in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Croatian. Users can access twenty English, Latin and Greek versions of the Bible:
- American Standard Version (ASV)
- American King James Version (AKJV)
- Darby Bible (DBY)
- Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision (DRB)
- King James Version (KJV)
- World English Bible (WEB)
- Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
- (Latin) Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Latin Vulgate)
- (Greek) New Testament 1550
- (Greek) New Testament 1894
In addition, the Bible App allows users to compare multiple translations in different windows. An internal search engine searches for a specific keyword, an exact phrase or a passage using a standard notation (such as John 1:1-18). Users can highlight verses and access all selections from convenient, dedicated screens where searches and highlights are organized by bible version and date.
“We are extremely pleased to bring the Bible app to our devoted community of Catholics and Christians around the world. It is the perfect complement to the Divine Office Catholic Ministry’s suite of prayer apps for Mac computers and Apple iOS mobile devices,” Dane Falkner of Divine Office commented.
The Divine Office Catholic Ministry currently offers several apps:
- Bible App for Mac —20 searchable versions of the Holy Bible in 6 languages
- Divine Office—complete resource for praying the Liturgy of the Hours, available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and Mac
- Prayers for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch—reference of Catholic prayers in several languages
- Divine Office: Morning Prayer (Lauds), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Night Prayer (Compline) for iPhone and iPod Touch—audio Liturgy of the Hours
- The Bible App is scheduled for release in the Mac App Store on June 1st, 2011.
This treasury of prayers, now released on Kindle, will help you go to the Lord with courage and pray to receive God's grace.
Sometimes, the Pope said of prayers and devotions, one goes to the Lord "to ask something for someone;" one asks for a favor and then goes away. "But that," he warned, "is not prayer," because if "you want the Lord to bestow a grace, you have to go with courage and do what Abraham did, with that sort of tenacity."
This comprehensive treasury of Catholic prayer includes everyday prayers, devotionals, how to pray the rosary, litanies, the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic prayers, prayers to prepare for confession, prayers to the saints, Marian prayers, family prayers, and more.
Award-Winning Children's Literature
CHANDLER, AZ (June 14, 2011) – The judges of the 2011 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in children's literature, have spoken. Our Treasure, written by Michele Elena Bondi and illustrated by Kristina Marie Pope, is the winner of two second place awards in the Educational/Instructional and Religion categories, and three honorable mentions in the Children’s Picture Book, Best Cover Design, and Best Illustrations categories.
“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score of 72 out of 80 must be earned for a 1st Place award, 64 out of 80 for a 2nd Place and 56 out of 80 for an Honorable Mention,” explains Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”
In Our Treasure, children learn that there is priceless Treasure waiting for them whenever they want to become very rich. Do you know where “Our Treasure” can be found? The beautiful hardcover keepsake picture book about the Eucharist, published by Joseph Karl Publishing (2010), retails for $16.00 and can be purchased at Joseph Karl Publishing, Amazon.com, Baker & Taylor, Quality Books Inc., and Faith @ Work. For a complete list of winners including all 1st and 2nd places and Honorable Mentions, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on “Winners.”
The Chocolate Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which is open to any and all books about or relating in some way to food, is already underway with an August 1 deadline for entries; as is the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, which honors all genres of books in 50 categories, with a February 1, 2012 deadline. However, Royal Dragonfly submissions postmarked December 1, 2011 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show. The 3rd Annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest will launch following notification of the Chocolate Dragonfly winners.
For complete winners' lists including 2nd Place and Honorable Mention wins, rules and entry forms for any of the Dragonfly Book Awards contests, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com. For more details on Five Star Publications, email info@FiveStarPublications.com or call 480-940-8182.
Also by Michele Elena Bondi, Your Personal Apostolate: Accepting and Sharing the Love of God.
“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score of 72 out of 80 must be earned for a 1st Place award, 64 out of 80 for a 2nd Place and 56 out of 80 for an Honorable Mention,” explains Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”
In Our Treasure, children learn that there is priceless Treasure waiting for them whenever they want to become very rich. Do you know where “Our Treasure” can be found? The beautiful hardcover keepsake picture book about the Eucharist, published by Joseph Karl Publishing (2010), retails for $16.00 and can be purchased at Joseph Karl Publishing, Amazon.com, Baker & Taylor, Quality Books Inc., and Faith @ Work. For a complete list of winners including all 1st and 2nd places and Honorable Mentions, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on “Winners.”
The Chocolate Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which is open to any and all books about or relating in some way to food, is already underway with an August 1 deadline for entries; as is the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, which honors all genres of books in 50 categories, with a February 1, 2012 deadline. However, Royal Dragonfly submissions postmarked December 1, 2011 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show. The 3rd Annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest will launch following notification of the Chocolate Dragonfly winners.
For complete winners' lists including 2nd Place and Honorable Mention wins, rules and entry forms for any of the Dragonfly Book Awards contests, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com. For more details on Five Star Publications, email info@FiveStarPublications.com or call 480-940-8182.
Also by Michele Elena Bondi, Your Personal Apostolate: Accepting and Sharing the Love of God.
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