Paulist Productions names Fr. Eric Andrews new president
LOS ANGELES --- Paulist Father Eric Andrews, a television and film producer, will take the helm as president of Paulist Productions Sept. 1, according to a recent announcement by Paulist Father John Duffy, president of The Paulist Fathers.
Father Andrews will become the third president in Paulist Productions' half-century history of producing movies, television and new media, replacing current president and executive producer, Paulist Father Frank Desiderio, who is resigning to develop a national series of retreats and seminars on the topic of forgiveness centered on his most recent documentary film, "The Big Question: A Film About Forgiveness."
Father Andrews is a television and film producer and currently co-creator and co-host of the new BustedHalo.com web series The Princess, The Priest and The War for the Perfect Wedding. He brings to his new position demonstrated strengths in the field of digital and new media. Formerly a producer for Sunday to Sunday at Paulist Media Works in Washington, DC, Father Andrews received his BFA from New York University Film School in 1987 and a Masters of Divinity from Catholic University in 1994.
Prior to joining the Paulist Fathers in 1989, Father Andrews worked for Jim Henson and The Muppets on a variety of productions, including serving as production manager for segments of The Jim Henson Hour for NBC, among others. Most recently, he was pastor and campus minister at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 2003-2009.
Father Desiderio will continue in his role as chairman of the board and will assume new responsibilities for the Human Family Educational and Cultural Institute, which annually awards The Humanitas Prize to encourage the communication of human values through entertainment writing. For more information on Paulist Productions, which creates film and television programs that reveal God's presence in the contemporary human experience, visit: www.paulistproductions.org.
IITS course looks at trends in ecumenical/interreligious thought
LOS ANGELES --- Father Alexi Smith, ecumenical and interreligious affairs officer for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will lead a week-long class, "Creating Catholic Culture with a Deep Respect for Other Religious Traditions," at the Immaculate Heart Retreat House June 22-26 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the International Institute of Tribunal Studies as part of its "Summer with the Benedicts" series of courses, the class is open to the public and may be taken for credit or personal enrichment.
During the class, Father Smith will present the most recent developments in the area of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue since Vatican II. On the evening of June 25, a panel of speakers from different faith traditions will share their insights on the need to build a religious culture in America following a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception open to students and guests. Admission to the reception is $15.
Class fees are $35 non-credit; $500 credit through the Graduate Theological Foundation. Deadline to register is June 19. The Immaculate Heart Retreat House is located at 3431 Waverly Drive in Los Angeles. For information, contact Sr. Rita Stuckey, (213) 637-7275 or email to: srrjstuckey@la-archdiocese.org.
Immigration reform advocates enthusiastic, but wary of its prospects
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- An enthusiastic clamor of supporters rallied for immigration reform at a June 4 town hall meeting, though a subtext of frustration arose around the postponement of a meeting with President Barack Obama. Advocates from 31 states gathered at the Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill to build support for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. It was one part of events launching the Reform Immigration for America Campaign, a national effort bringing together grass-roots organizations, labor unions, business interests and faith-based communities to support a revamped immigration policy. At a June 3 press conference that officially launched the national campaign, speakers affirmed their confidence that legislation will get moving this year, citing Obama's campaign assertion that immigration reform is a top priority for his administration. But an unanticipated announcement that the White House had postponed a summit between the president and reform advocates because of scheduling conflicts generated some mixed feelings at the town hall meeting. The next day at the closing luncheon of a three-day conference of 800 organizers, Cecilia Munoz, director of intergovernmental affairs for the White House, said Obama is committed to pushing comprehensive immigration reform this year, as he said during the presidential campaign and numerous times since then. "I have a message for you," said Munoz, a former vice president of the National Council of La Raza, a leading promoter of immigration reform. "We want to get this job done. This is not for show."
Former Protestant minister first married priest ordained in Nebraska
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (CNS) -- Father Sidney Bruggeman is not the only Catholic priest to be ordained this year in Nebraska, but he is the only one with a wife, children and grandchildren. Ordained June 5, he is among approximately 100 married priests in the country -- and the only one in Nebraska, said Bishop William J. Dendinger of Grand Island. The Vatican in 1980 granted permission for married former Protestant clergymen in the United States to become priests on a case-by-case basis. Father Bruggeman last served as an ordained minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from 1988 to 1995. There will be stipulations to Father Bruggeman's status as a priest, Bishop Dendinger said. For instance, he cannot be named a canonical pastor of his own parish, although he can be an associate pastor or work in a social services capacity, such as in a hospital or a school. Father Bruggeman and his wife, Carol have four children and 10 grandchildren with two more on the way. Before he could begin studying to become a Catholic priest, he had to receive approval from the Vatican. It came through in April 2005 after a two rounds of documentation. He began classes at St. Paul's Seminary in September 2006 and spent a month in Rome after he finished classes in January 2009.
Sisters of the Company of Mary celebrate golden jubilees
TUSTIN --- Sister of the Company of Mary Doris Louise Valdez will celebrate her Golden Jubilee on June 13 at the Sisters' Provincial House in Tustin. The New Mexico native made her first profession of religious vows in Los Angeles in 1959. Over the years she has ministered to students and families from San Antonio de Padua School in East Los Angeles as principal, St. John's Cathedral School in Fresno, St. Anne's and Holy Rosary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and most recently at Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School in Tustin where she is currently president of the school. She has served as Provincial and as formation director. In 2007 she returned to Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School. (More information on sisters jubilees will be presented this summer in The Tidings.) |