William Hemsworth's Blog, page 26

I Heard The Bells To Be Released

LANCASTER, PA., Nov. 7, 2023 – Following nearly five decades of producing spectacular, faith-based entertainment experiences live on stage, Sight & Sound partners with Pinnacle Peak Pictures and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment to release their debut feature film, I HEARD THE BELLS, for the first time on Digital and DVD on November 14, 2023. The release will contain bonus features delving deeper into the filmmaking and historical figures that inspired the film.

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Set in the 1860s, the film takes viewers on a journey through the experiences of author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who leads an idyllic life – until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Longfellow puts down his pen, silenced by grief. However, it’s the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet’s lost voice as he discovers resounding hope and a rekindled faith. 

“While many recognize Longfellow as one of America’s most well-known poets, they often don’t realize how his words and faith in God had far reaching impact,” said Josh Enck, I HEARD THE BELLS Director and Chief Story Officer of Sight & Sound. “The passion behind creating this film was not only to share the true story behind the Christmas carol, but to deliver a story of hope to a hope-hungry world.”

As the first Sight & Sound film ever produced, I HEARD THE BELLS far exceeded expectations, garnering a 98% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Initially debuting in December of 2022 as a three-day-only theatrical event, the film’s run in movie theaters nationwide extended to two months as a result of high demand, resulting in $5.6 million in box office sales. The partnership between Pinnacle Peak Pictures, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Sight & Sound opens the door for the ministry to reach audiences in a whole new way.

“We’re honored to collaborate with Pinnacle Peak Pictures and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment this holiday season to bring this powerful story to life for new and existing audiences,” explains Katie Miller, Director of Marketing & Communications. “We‘re passionate about sharing true stories of individuals who changed the world because Christ first changed them with as many people as possible. We can’t wait to share what’s next for Sight & Sound Films.”

I HEARD THE BELLS will be available on Digital and DVD November 14, 2023, in the US and Canada, and is now available for presale through select retailers. For more information on I HEARD THE BELLS, visit iheardthebellsmovie.com.

BONUS FEATURES TO OWN ON DIGITAL & DVD:

On The Set of  I HEARD THE BELLS The Heart of the StorySnapshots: The LongfellowsHenry Wadsworth LongfellowFanny LongfellowCharley LongfellowRecording The MusicCreating the CostumesWeathering Special Effects“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” performed by Rachel Day Hughes

Film Website:  https://www.iheardthebellsmovie.com/

Trailer:  https://uni.pictures/IHeardTheBells_Trailer

Instagram:  @sightandsoundfilms

Facebook:  @Sight & Sound Films

St. Teresa’s Tree of Life

The love of God is the tree of life in the midst of the terrestrial paradise. It has, like other trees, six parts, — roots, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit. The roots are the virtues by which love itself is acquired, and the principal are nine in number: 1. True penitence, and reception of […]

St. Teresa’s Tree of Life

St. Charles Borromeo

About fifty years after the Protestant heresy had broken out, Our Lord raised up a mere youth to renew the face of His Church. In 1560 Charles Borromeo, then twenty-two years of age, was created cardinal, and by the side of his uncle, Pius IV., administered the affairs of the Holy See. His first care […]

St. Charles Borromeo

Desiring Heaven

Anyone who has read of the life of St. Padre Pio has undoubtedly learned of his many interactions with the holy souls. One of these tales involves St. Pio praying alone in the friary and being surprised at the sudden appearance of a man, despite locked doors. Pio asked him who he was, and the […]

Desiring Heaven

All Souls Day

November 2: All Souls Day—Commemoration Liturgical Color: White, Violet, or Black Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who […]

All Souls Day

Pope on All Saints: We are called to holiness, a gift and journey together

On the Solemnity of All Saints, Pope Francis speaks about the call to holiness and how it is both a gift from God and a journey to be made together with our brothers and sisters and all the Saints who are companions along the way. Pope Francis greeted pilgrims and visitors in Saint Peter’s Square…

Pope on All Saints: We are called to holiness, a gift and journey together

A priest’s reversal: ‘I was wrong. Father Rupnik’s art must go’

An important read, from Father Patrick Briscoe in Our Sunday Visitor:  Last December, when news started to come to light about the “very highly credible” accusations of abuses committed by former Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik, I cautioned against removing his art. In the face of the outrage I saw, I advocated for a more measured response.…

A priest’s reversal: ‘I was wrong. Father Rupnik’s art must go’

Moral Injury Explored in 2023 Chaplain Convocations

ROME — Every other year Archbishop Timothy Broglio summons all active-duty Catholic military chaplains and other priests in service to the U.S. armed forces to a convocation to discuss current affairs and common concerns. This year, as usual, His Excellency held the convocation in four alternate locations giving hundreds of priests, stationed throughout the global Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), a sensible option for attending one nearest them. This year’s convocations were held 21-25 August in San Diego, CA; 4-8 September in Arlington, VA (Washington, DC); 8-22 September San Antonio, TX; and 23-27 October in Rome. Archbishop Broglio directed each convocation under the theme, “Leadership with Spiritual Support,” with particular focus on the phenomenon of moral injury.

In a presentation on “Warrior Ethos and Moral Injury,” Mark Moitoza, Th.D., D.Min., AMS Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization, explored a topic all too familiar to combat veterans and their confessors. “Moral injury,” said Dr. Moitoza, “is damage to a person resulting from a violent contradiction of deeply held moral expectations. Those impacted by moral injury find that it disrupts their confidence and affects their ability to make ethical and moral decisions. When this happens trust of self, trust of others, trust of the command, and even trust in God is broken and becomes difficult to bear.”

Dr. Moitoza, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the topic, suggested this sickness of the soul may be more common than even experienced military chaplains realize. He said moral injury can develop in response to any number of military experiences, not just combat. “While moral injury can be a potential invisible injury of war it may also occur in the high-stakes situation of military training, disaster relief efforts, military sexual trauma, or unhealthy command structures. One’s sense of self-worth becomes diminished and inhibits seeking help from God or the community of faith.”

How can priests give effective pastoral care and counsel? “Moral injury,” Dr. Moitoza said, “needs the language of theology to explore the impact of the estrangement caused by sin and suffering. The church is well positioned to extend needed pastoral care to those suffering and their families through a willingness to listen, through an inclination to accompany one another through challenges, and through the frequent celebration of the healing sacraments. The call from Pope Francis to reach out to the peripheries includes those who experience isolation after enduring moral injury.”

Each of the 2023 convocations was well-attended by dozens of priests and chaplains from far and wide. Every four-day gathering was a time of liturgical celebration, prayer, reflection, and dialogue. The Fathers will draw on their convocation experience, continuing education, and inspiration to hone their pastoral skills as they embark on another two years of priestly service to the men, women, and families in the U.S. Military.

Archbishop Broglio, who briefed the priests on issues of Canon Law and other matters, dividing his time between the Rome convocation and the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican, renewed his appreciation for the opportunities offered by the convocations.  “This year the topics of moral injury and leadership resonated with the priests gathered.  Together we learned to grow in the ministry of caring for the men and women in uniform and their families.  These privileged moments of the convocations allow me time to spend with the priests who serve the faithful of the AMS, to hear their concerns, and to draw near to the Lord together in prayer.  Join me in thanking Almighty God for these valuable opportunities.”

Another speaker at the convocations, retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General John Wissler, told chaplains their own leadership by example can go a long way toward healing the morally injured. “Selfless servant warrior leaders of character,” he said, “forged by living the virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude; and guided by the theological virtue of Charity through self-sacrifice will ameliorate, if not eliminate, the effects of moral injury.  By loving those you lead…love as action, not love exclusively as an emotion…the true leader of character will make an indelible mark in the lives of the people they lead, and the Nation they serve.  Our Catholic chaplains are called to be just such leaders.”

That One Deuterocanonical That Prophesied Christ…

It is no secret that Catholics have bigger bibles than Protestants do. There is a complex history to why, but I will not get into that now. Instead, I would like to zone in on one particular book, considered apocryphal by Protestants, called Wisdom, often considered to have been written by a Jew in Alexandria […]

That One Deuterocanonical That Prophesied Christ…

Pope expresses closeness to Mexican resort city devastated by hurricane

By Justin McLellan VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After dozens of people were killed and billions of dollars in damages were suffered due to a hurricane that hit Mexico’s Pacific coast, Pope Francis expressed his condolences and prayed that Christians would contribute, in a spirit of charity, to the reconstruction of affected areas. The pope was…

Pope expresses closeness to Mexican resort city devastated by hurricane