USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - ABC-TV Program Shows Faith-Motivated Service Of U.S. Catholics

ABC-TV Program Shows Faith-Motivated Service Of U.S. Catholics

WASHINGTON (September 13, 2004) — DC –For the 65 million Roman Catholics in the United States, there is no "typical" way to put belief into action, but a tapestry of ways to live out the faith.

Faith Works: Across the U.S.A., a new documentary slated to air on ABC-TV stations next month, looks at ordinary days in the lives of several U.S. Catholics. They include:

an Alaskan priest who pilots his own plane to remote parishes
a New Orleans restaurateur who serves up vital job skills to inner city youth
a religious sister who travels the back roads of Appalachia providing health care to the poor.

The one-hour program, which was produced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC), will be offered to ABC affiliates beginning Sunday, October 3, to air at their discretion.

From coast to coast, the individual Catholics featured in the program provide a sense of the depth and diversity of Catholic ministry. One admires the principal of a Catholic elementary school in Fort Worth, Texas, that has become an integral part of the lives of several immigrant families. One stands in awe of the Jesuit priest who is also a world-famous astronomer in Arizona. Both hold the same faith yet have found radically different ways to express it.

"People know that the Church includes hard-working, dedicated priests, women religious and laity," says Executive Producer Ellen McCloskey of the CCC. "Still, we were delighted to witness firsthand the imagination and enthusiasm with which these faith workers share the Gospel."

One story features Patrick Mulcahy and the "Wednesday Night Suppers" he created to provide a welcome dining experience for the needy in his San Francisco parish. A parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer explains why she volunteers.

"I hear the word of God and I look at myself and think, how can you put this into action," says volunteer Ramona Michaels. "And because Patrick founded this wonderful place to feed the people, I think this is the best way I can put it into action."

Faith Works: Across the U.S.A. was produced for the CCC by Digital Shooters of New York, NY. The documentary is part of the "Vision & Values" series of the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, a consortium of Christian and Jewish groups that provides religious and spiritual programming to network television.

The Catholic Communication Campaign is an effort of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to develop programming, public service announcements, and other resources to promote Gospel values in the media. Donations of Catholic parishioners make possible the work of the CCC. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/ccc.