Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285452&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, May 29, 2025 / 14:42 pm (CNA).

A lawsuit filed in Wisconsin alleges that an employee of a Catholic Charities affiliate there stole millions of dollars as part of a yearslong scheme involving credit card fraud and fake invoices. 

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said in the lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Wisconsin circuit court, that former employee Brandi Ellis "abused her authority and misappropriated millions of dollars" when serving in a variety of financial roles within the organization. 

Ellis allegedly worked as an accountant, an accounting manager, and eventually as a finance manager at the charity, with her employment taking place from February 2014 to May 2024. 

The suit alleges that Ellis paid "false invoices ostensibly reflecting work and/or services completed or provided by vendors" but which actually funneled money to vendors with "personal or professional connections" to Ellis. 

The accountant also allegedly used corporate credit cards to make personal purchases. 

The schemes each totaled "hundreds of thousands of dollars," the suit alleges. 

In addition to suing its ex-accountant, the charity is also suing the Madison, Wisconsin-based financial services firm Baker Tilly over allegedly failing to identify the fraudulent activity as part of auditing services it provided to the Catholic organization. 

The firm should have recognized "goods and services that could not reasonably be in support of the plaintiff's charitable mission," the suit argues, including "Amazon Prime video rentals, Uber rides, Ticketmaster purchases, [and] casino purchases from MGM Grand."

The accounting group "failed to recognize clearly fraudulent purchasing activity," the suit alleges, and further relied on "internal documents generated by … Brandi Ellis" rather than independently verified third-party data. 

The suit seeks damages from both Ellis and the accounting firm.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285451&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Lima Newsroom, May 29, 2025 / 15:12 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Robert Sarah as his special envoy for the celebrations taking place in France commemorating the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of St. Anne to the Breton peasant Yvon Nicolazic.

The Vatican stated that, as the papal special envoy, the prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments will preside over "the liturgical celebrations to be held July 25-26 at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray, Diocese of Vannes (France), on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of St. Anne to the Breton peasant Yvon Nicolazic."

In the early 1620s, Nicolazic experienced a vision of a radiant lady, later identified as St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She reportedly instructed him to rebuild a long-lost chapel dedicated to her on his land.

On its website, the Sainte-Anne-d'Auray Shrine states that this happened on July 25, 1624, the eve of the feast of St. Anne.

"The next 7th of March, following St. Anne's call, Yvon Nicolazic discovered a statue of St. Anne in the ruins of a chapel in his field at Bocenno. It was the sign giving proof of the truth of the apparitions," the website adds.

The shrine notes that "from that day forward, pilgrims came in droves to this place then called "Keranna," or "the village of Anne," proving that St. Anne was honored in this place even before the apparitions, a fact borne out by the presence of the old chapel stones among which the statue was found."

The shrine notes that after four centuries, the pilgrimages "retain their vitality." St. John Paul II visited the Shrine of Sainte-Anne d'Auray on Sept. 20, 1996.

As part of the fourth centenary of the apparitions, the shrine is also celebrating its jubilee year, holding a series of devotional and academic activities.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285443&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, May 29, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The Sisters of Bon Secours are launching a citywide campaign against gun violence with seven other Catholic congregations in Baltimore.

The advertisement campaign announced this week features ads inside and outside of city buses and in subway transit stations throughout the city that say "Put the Guns Down. Let Peace Begin With Us."

The Bon Secours sisters are part of a coalition of religious sisters and others advocating for gun violence prevention called "Nuns Against Gun Violence." Taking inspiration from a similar campaign by other sisters in Ohio, the Sisters of Bon Secours ultimately landed on an advertising campaign.

"The Sisters of Bon Secours have been involved in gun violence prevention advocacy efforts for many years and were looking for a way to bring more attention to the issue," said Simone Blanchard, director of justice, peace, and integrity of creation for the Sisters of Bon Secours.

Bus advertisements will carry the message "all over the city instead of a few stationery billboards," she said.

The advertisements feature a QR code that takes viewers to the sisters' webpage, which has resources on combating gun violence, including a prayer for victims of gun violence and links to the Archdiocese of Baltimore's gun buyback program. 

"The ads on Baltimore city buses reflect the commitment of my community and other Catholic sisters in Baltimore to say: There is another way," said Sister Patricia Dowling of the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours. 

"We all deserve safe streets, a sense of peace, and the freedom to live without fear," she continued. "Peace begins with each of us, and anything we can do to raise awareness about alternatives to violence and the sacredness of life is essential today."

Dowling said the campaign aligns with the congregation's charism and is also "deeply personal." 

"As a Sister of Bon Secours living in West Baltimore, I hear gunshots regularly," Dowling told CNA. "I've seen the faces of those who've been shot, and I've walked with neighbors carrying the pain and trauma that gun violence leaves behind."

"Our charism — compassion, healing, and liberation — calls us to uphold the dignity of every person and to seek peace in every situation," she continued.

"It's not just about my neighborhood — it's about all of us," Dowling said. 

Baltimore is among the top 10 cities in the U.S. with the highest rates of gun homicides. According to a recent review by Pew Research, the states with the highest gun murder rates in the U.S. include Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and New Mexico as well as Washington, D.C.

Blanchard said the campaign has its roots in Catholic social teaching, "starting with the foundational principle of the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death."

"This teaching stems from the fact that we are all created in the image of God and have inherent dignity," Blanchard told CNA. 

"As Catholics we are called to work for the common good towards a just and peaceful society where everyone's needs are met, especially those living in poverty and violence," Blanchard said. 

She noted that the campaign — and other efforts like it — is about having "solidarity with those who are suffering the most from the effects of gun violence."

Other congregations that helped sponsor the new campaign include the Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore Emmanuel Monastery; the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Province of St. Louise; the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart; the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Atlantic Midwest Province; Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, U.S. East-West Province; the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; and the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285442&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, May 29, 2025 / 10:09 am (CNA).

World-class cyclists will greet Pope Leo XIV and circle Vatican City on Sunday before embarking on the final lap of the Giro d'Italia, a multistage bicycle race that concludes in Rome.

The professional race, which started in Albania on May 9, is among the top three most important international multistage races in the world, together with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana. It includes 21 stages, mostly in Italy.

The last stage of the 108th edition of the race will take place on June 1, starting from the Caracalla Baths, just south of the Coliseum, and proceeding toward the Vatican.

The 1.8-mile noncompetitive ride through the Vatican will start from the Petriano Square, just south of St. Peter's Basilica inside the city state, where Pope Leo XIV will greet the athletes at the starting line.  

The path of the race will then follow the Vatican walls past the basilica to climb toward the Vatican Gardens and arrive at the heliport, the highest, westernmost point of the territory.

The racers will then pedal through a green space dotted with Marian images, including a replica of the Lourdes grotto and a mosaic of Our Lady of Good Counsel — a favorite devotion of Pope Leo. After descending toward the Vatican Museums and the "Square Garden," the cyclists will double back along the rear of St. Peter's Basilica to exit out a side gate on the south side of Vatican City.

The history of the cycling competition dates back to 1909. The annual race has taken place over three weeks between May and June every year since its beginning, with interruptions only for the First and Second World Wars. In 1946 and 2020 it was postponed but still took place.

Among the storied winners of the Giro d'Italia is Italian cycling champion Gino Bartali, a devout Catholic who helped save more than 800 Jews during World War II.

Bartali, who was declared "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem in 2013, won the Giro d'Italia twice between 1936 and the outbreak of the Second World War. He was also a twice winner of the Tour de France.

Using cycling training as a cover, during World War II, the road cyclist transported photographs and forged documents between Florence and Franciscan convents in the surrounding regions where Jews were hidden. He also carried messages and documents for the Italian Resistance.

Bartali also assisted the Assisi Network, an underground network of Catholic clergy who hid Jews in convents and monasteries during World War II by taking Jews from the hiding places to the Swiss Alps in a wagon with a secret compartment attached to his bicycle. If he was stopped, he said that the wagon was for training.

The champion's reputation and popularity as Italy's top cyclist meant that he was largely left alone by the Fascist police and German troops, who did not want to risk upsetting his numerous fans by arresting him.

The cyclist used to say: "Good is done, but not said. And certain medals hang on the soul, not on the jacket."

The husband and father of three children died in 2000 at the age of 85. His cause for beatification was opened in 2018.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285438&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A Catholic foster care ministry leader is calling for Catholic families to support vulnerable children and families by becoming foster parents. 

Springs of Love ministry founder Kimberly Henkel said many Catholics are unaware of the "huge crisis in our country" surrounding foster care, and people of faith are in a unique position to bring love to children in need of foster care. 

Henkel, who is a foster and adoptive mother herself, launched Springs of Love as a ministry to help other Catholic couples navigate the process of fostering. Henkel described the foster system as "very cyclical" and "difficult to break out of," with children often passing from home to home. In the end, she said, children who age out of foster care with no family connections are often left increasingly prone to addiction, homelessness, and even trafficking.

"We have the answer," Henkel said in an "EWTN Pro-Life Weekly" interview with host Abi Galvan on Tuesday. "We can help these children to heal by loving them … We have Jesus, the healer, the divine physician who can heal all of our wounds."

According to Henkel, who founded Springs of Love in 2022, there are some 400,000 children in the foster care system. Approximately 20,000 will age out every year with no solid family foundation from which to embark on adulthood. 

"As my husband and I … started fostering and adopting, as we continued down the path, we just saw this need," Henkel recalled. "So we started [Springs of Love] and are trying to No. 1, raise awareness, because so many Catholics have no idea" of the great need for foster families.

Springs of Love is currently working on releasing a new curriculum for prospective foster parents later this summer, Henkel said, noting that while much of it will touch on fostering from a pro-life perspective and the "joy of adoption," it will also delve into more difficult aspects.

"A lot of the times when these kids are aging out," she said, "they have no connections, they have nobody to look out for them." Henkel noted that about 70% of young women who age out of the foster care system become pregnant within the first couple of years and either go on to "repeat the cycle" they experienced in their own lives or have an abortion.

"We're really going in and trying to educate people," Henkel said, "and doing it through the light of the Gospel to give people that hope that Christ can truly come into our hearts and bring the healing that we need." 

Springs of Love has a video series on EWTN on Demand that tells the stories of foster families. The point, according to Henkel, is not only to raise awareness of the process of fostering a child but also to show that the aim of fostering is ultimately family reunification. 

"The goal of foster care is reunification, so if it is safe for a child to go back home, then we want to continue being a support to that family," Henkel said. 

"This is how we can see a huge change, because when we're dealing with these massive issues of homelessness, poverty, addictions, and trafficking, in order for people to break out of that, they need to be poured into," she continued. "They need to know the love of Jesus [and] to have people to come alongside them and accompany them."

Springs of Love is the sister organization of a ministry Henkel previously helped co-found called Springs in the Desert, which accompanies Catholic couples struggling with infertility and loss, "by offering a place of respite and solidarity," as stated on its website.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285417&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 15:21 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV held the second general audience of his pontificate today in which he reflected on the parable of the good Samaritan.

At the beginning of his catechesis, addressed to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father recalled that the parables of the Gospel offer an opportunity "to change perspective and open ourselves up to hope."

The lack of hope, the pontiff explained, is sometimes due "to the fact that we fixate on a certain rigid and closed way of seeing things," and the parables "help us to look at them from another point of view."

He then recalled that Jesus proposes this parable to "a doctor of the law," who asks him: "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Lk 10:25-37), and then Jesus invites him to love his neighbor.

'The practice of worship does not automatically lead to compassion'

The scene of the parable of the good Samaritan is a road "as difficult and harsh as life itself," the pope said. In fact, the man who crosses it "is attacked, beaten, robbed, and left half dead."

"It is the experience that happens when situations, people, sometimes even those we have trusted, take everything from us and leave us in the middle of the road," the pontiff emphasized.

Leo XIV then added that "life is made up of encounters, and in these encounters, we emerge for what we are. We find ourselves in front of others, faced with their fragility and weakness, and we can decide what to do: to take care of them or pretend nothing is wrong."

He recalled that the priest and the Levite went down that same road and didn't stop to help him. "The practice of worship does not automatically lead to being compassionate. Indeed, before being a religious matter, compassion is a question of humanity! Before being believers, we are called to be human," he emphasized.

Haste as an obstacle to compassion

The pope pointed out that "haste, so present in our lives, very often impedes us from feeling compassion. One who thinks his or her journey must be the priority is not willing to stop for another."

However, the Samaritan, who belonged to a despised people, decided to stop to help the man. Thus, Leo XIV emphasized that "religiosity does not enter into this. This Samaritan simply stops because he is a man faced with another man in need of help."

He also affirmed that compassion "is expressed through practical gestures," recalling that the Samaritan "approaches, because if you want to help someone, you cannot think of keeping your distance; you have to get involved, get dirty yourself, perhaps be contaminated."

"One truly helps if one is willing to feel the weight of the other's pain," Pope Leo XIV noted.

"When will we, too, be capable of interrupting our journey and having compassion? When we understand that the wounded man in the street represents each one of us. And then the memory of all the times that Jesus stopped to take care of us will make us more capable of compassion," he said.

Finally, Pope Leo invited the faithful to pray to "grow in humanity, so that our relationships may be truer and richer in compassion."

"Let us ask the heart of Jesus for the grace to increasingly have the same feelings he does," he concluded.

After greeting the pilgrims from different countries, the Holy Father intoned the Our Father in Latin and imparted his blessing to the faithful present, who listened attentively despite the high temperatures and intense Roman spring sun.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285416&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 15:41 pm (CNA).

At the end of Wednesday's general audience, Pope Leo XIV turned his attention to the people suffering the devastating consequences of war, especially in Ukraine and Gaza.

During his greeting to the Italian-speaking faithful, the Holy Father lamented that the Ukrainian people are being hit by "serious new attacks" against civilians and infrastructure.

He also assured them of his closeness and prayers for all the victims, particularly the children and families of that nation, which has lived under the constant threat of bombs since the Russian army invaded in February 2022.

"I strongly reiterate my appeal to stop the war and to support every initiative of dialogue and peace," he continued.

He also urged the faithful to join "in prayer for peace in Ukraine and wherever there is suffering because of war."

Pope Leo XIV also referred to the Gaza Strip, where "the cry of mothers, of fathers who clutch the lifeless bodies of children … rises ever more intensely to heaven." 

He also lamented those "who are continually forced to move in search of a little food and safer shelter from bombing."

"I renew my appeal to the leaders: [implement a] ceasefire, release all hostages, fully respect humanitarian law. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!" the Holy Father exclaimed.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285407&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 28, 2025 / 10:37 am (CNA).

A brutal attack by extremist Muslim herdsmen in Nigeria on Sunday left dozens dead and resulted in the kidnapping of a Catholic priest and several nuns.

Hundreds of Jihadist Fulani herdsmen gunned down nearly 40 people, more than half of them Christians, across several villages on Sunday, according to a report by Truth Nigeria, a humanitarian-aid nonprofit that seeks to document Nigeria's struggles with corruption and crime.

The attack occurred three days after the shooting of Father Solomon Atongo, a priest of St. John Quasi Parish in Jimba, and the kidnapping of two of his companions. Atongo is currently receiving treatment for his wounds.

Some of Sunday's attacks took place in Aondona, the hometown of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, and appear to be retaliatory after Anagbe, who is a Claretian missionary, testified in a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in March that the Nigerian government is doing nothing to stop the systemic persecution and elimination of Christians.

Violence in the region has increased since Anagbe's testimony in the U.S. capital, according to Douglas Burton, director of Truth Nigeria, who appeared on "EWTN News Nightly" on Tuesday to discuss ongoing violence and kidnappings occurring across the West African country.

"It's a tragic situation, and the story is in play," Burton told anchor Erik Rosales regarding Sunday's attacks in the central Benue state. "And what happened is that Fulani terrorists attacked [Anagbe's] home village."

As reported by the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, Anagbe testified on March 12 before the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa that "the experience of the Nigerian Christians today can be summed up as that of a Church under Islamist extermination. It is frightening to live there."

Later that day Anagbe told "EWTN News Nightly" that "the persecution of Christians generally and Catholics in Nigeria is the work of an Islamic agenda to conquer the territory and make it become an Islamic state in West Africa."

Burton estimated the number of deaths to be "up to 36" in this Sunday's massacre in Anagbe's village, though Reuters has reported the death toll to be "at least 42 people" overall in the attacks in the Ahume, Tyolaha, and Tse-Ubiam villages that day. 

A former State Department official, Burton said he was unaware of the Nigerian government making any arrests in connection with the Sunday attacks. "There's been no evidence that these attacks will be halted," he said. 

This is not a surprise to Burton, who further explained on "EWTN News Nightly" that the Nigerian army "is really overstretched," with over half of the country's military concentrated in the northeast region of the 36-state country, where there is currently a "deadly insurgency." 

He also noted unrest in the far-west region in addition to the Middle Belt states, where Sunday's attacks occurred. "The Nigerian military really needs more people and the police need more recruitment," Burton said. "That has been the position that we have taken at Truth Nigeria."

Nigeria is the largest country on the African continent and the sixth-largest country in the world, with a population of approximately 236 million.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285398&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican's Apostolic Almoner's Office.

These blessings, printed on parchment, are a well-established tradition in the Catholic Church and are available for significant moments in Christian life such as the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

As indicated on the website of the Vatican Apostolic Almoner's Office, the procedure for obtaining an apostolic blessing can be completed in two ways: in person at the offices of this department or through an online form.

Those who choose the in-person method should go to the offices located within Vatican City, entering through the Porta di Sant'Anna, to the right of the colonnade in St. Peter's Square. Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time.

For those not in Rome, the digital process is equally accessible. Through the official website of the Apostolic Almoner's Office — the only authorized site for this purpose — applicants must follow several steps.

The first step is to select the occasion for which the blessing is being requested (such as a baptism, marriage, or anniversary); then, choose the style of parchment; then, enter the information that should appear on the document; and finally, register the applicant, choose the delivery method (local pickup in Rome or shipping via DHL Express), and make a donation by credit card (only Visa and MasterCard are accepted).

The requested information includes the full name of the recipient(s) of the blessing, the specific occasion, the date and location of the event (in the case of sacraments or anniversaries), as well as the sender's complete address, email address, and phone number. The system also allows users to open a personal account for future requests. Once the transaction is confirmed, the Apostolic Almoner's Office will send a confirmation email with the estimated delivery or pickup date.

The processing time for the request is approximately 25 days if picked up at the Vatican office and 30 days for international deliveries. The cost of the parchment ranges between 20 and 30 euros ($23-$34), depending on the style, plus shipping costs, which vary depending on the destination, from 15 euros ($17) for destinations within Italy to 40 euros ($45) if sent to Africa.

It is worth noting that, after deducting the processing and shipping costs, all proceeds go entirely to the charitable works carried out by this office in the name of the pope to help those most in need.

Regarding valid occasions for requesting the apostolic blessing, the almoner's office establishes strict criteria. They are granted for sacraments such as baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, ordination to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, and religious profession.

They are also available for significant anniversaries of these occasions and for birthdays marking decades or particularly significant ages (such as 18, 30, 75, or even 100 years). In some cases, such as wedding anniversaries or birthdays, the applicant is asked to provide a "declaration of suitability" attesting that the recipients are practicing Catholics.

Applications by regular mail, fax, or email are not accepted, and any requests made outside of authorized channels will be automatically rejected.

Obtaining an apostolic blessing is not only a symbolic gesture of communion with the successor of Peter but also direct support for the charitable works the pontiff carries out on behalf of the entire Church.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/news?blogid=catholic-news&view=post&articleid=285377&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, May 27, 2025 / 16:06 pm (CNA).

The second season of the award-winning online EWTN series "James the Less" will be released on Monday, June 9. 

The first season introduced viewers to James Little, a student fresh out of college desperate for a job. James is an atheist. However, a "help wanted" sign on the church bulletin board catches his eye and entices him to interview for the position: handyman.

James accepts the position at St. James the Less Church and starts to encounter Catholicism. Soon, James finds his ideals challenged by the no-nonsense pastor Father Lambert Burns and through his romantic pursuit of parishioner Anne-Marie.

EWTN Director of Studio Operations Stephen Beaumont told CNA that the idea for the series came from his desire to "create a series of short videos about a character growing in virtue."

"The idea for the title came from a Mass I attended at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, probably in 2019. I was in Rome on business and decided to attend a daily Mass at St. Peter's. At St. Peter's, there are always pilgrimage groups having Masses at the many side altars, and I ended up participating in a Mass with a group from a parish in England called St. James the Less," he explained. "That name interested me, because you usually hear 'St. James the Lesser' or 'St. James the Younger.' Also, it reminded me of a saints book I got for my first Communion, which listed the apostle as St. James the Less. I thought it would work well as the title."

Season 2 will consist of five episodes. "There will also be some new characters introduced, and most of all, you will see development of the relationship between James and Anne-Marie," Beaumont shared.

James is played by Catholic artist and missionary Tanner Kalina. He has been a part of ministries such as FOCUS, Ascension Presents, NET, and others. He also hosts a podcast with several of his friends called "Saints Alive."

While playing James, it has inspired Kalina "to look at the faith with fresh eyes," he told CNA in an interview.

"He's reminded me of how attractive our faith is and how we need to do a better job of owning it," he said. "There's so many people out there in James' shoes who are aching for what we have as Catholics."

"It's been a great joy and a testament to the goodness and creativity of God. He's so good," Kalina added. "After I left Hollywood a number of years ago for ministry, I didn't know if I'd ever have the chance to act again. When this fell in my lap, it felt like God was saying, 'I see you. I know you. I love you. Enjoy!'"

Kalina shared that in Season 2 viewers will also see "what happens after James opens his heart ever so slightly to our Eucharistic Lord."

When asked what he hopes people are taking away from the series, Kalina said: "I honestly just hope people are enjoying it. It's just good ol' wholesome fun, which is hard to find nowadays without an agenda attached."

"Primarily it is a romantic comedy and a fish-out-of-water story, so most of all, we hope that people will find it entertaining," Beaumont added. "There are some teaching moments along the way, but these moments flow naturally from the characters and the situations."

The series will not be broadcast on television. Watch exclusively on EWTN's YouTube channel:

Full Article