Catholicism movies to screen in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — “Catholicism,” a new nationally acclaimed 10-part film series, premieres in Alaska beginning Dec. 1.

The films are airing in more than 80 public television markets across the country.

Each month, one episode will be shown in downtown Anchorage. The films are free and open to the general public, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. After each viewing, attendees have the option to participate in a question-and-answer session in which a panel of local Catholic priests will field questions from the audience.

Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz is scheduled to anchor the first panel discussion after the screening Dec. 1 at the Wilda Marston Theater in the Loussac Library from 7 to 9 p.m.

The “Catholicism” series illustrates the history and influence of a global religion shared by more than 1 billion people around the world. Hosted by Father Robert Barron, the episodes are filmed in high-definition and span more than 50 locations in 15 countries.

The films explore the historic, cultural and religious impact and meaning that Catholicism continues to have throughout the world.

Catholics United For the Faith are host to the Anchorage viewings, with support from the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

The creator and host of the series is Father Robert Barron, an author, television commentator and professor of faith and culture at Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The executive producer is acclaimed filmmaker Mike Leonard, a veteran correspondent for NBC’s “Today Show” and producer of the popular public television series “Ride of Our Lives.” Together, Father Barron and Leonard spent two years traveling the world with a crew of seasoned network television producers.

In filming the series Father Barron said his team traveled the globe to capture some of the beauty, truth, and texture of Catholicism in an effort to engage the imaginations of both Catholics and non-Catholics.

In this sweeping film series, Father Barron tells the story of Catholicism using art, architecture, literature, music and many of the riches of the Catholic tradition.

The production crew traveled to some of the most renowned and sacred sites in Jerusalem, Rome, Krakow, Warsaw, New York, Istanbul, Ephesus, Lourdes, Mexico City, Athens, Corinth, Mexico City, Uganda, Manila, Sao Paolo, Auschwitz, Kolkata, Philadelphia, Chicago and beyond.

The team obtained exclusive access to film privately in many locations inaccessible to the general public. Highlights include some of the world’s architectural and artistic masterpieces and most sacred places: The Dome of The Rock, the Hagia Sophia, the tomb of Mother Teresa, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, rare views of the Pantheon, St. Peter s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Pope s private gardens, Chartres, Notre Dame, and Cologne Cathedrals, as well as one of the largest religious celebrations on the planet the feast of the Ugandan martyrs.

For more information, visit the CUF website at cufanchorage.com/events.php or send email to cufanchorage@gmail.com.

Reprinted by permission from the Catholic Anchor, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Anchorage.