MEDIA RELEASE
St. John Marie Vianney and the Year for Priests
Toronto, June 2, 2009 – Salt + Light Television, Canada’s Catholic Network, takes a look at St. John Marie Vianney and the Year for Priests on the Thursday, June 18th and Sunday, June 21st episodes of their flagship show, Catholic Focus.
Pope Benedict XVI has recently proclaimed June 2009 to June 2010 as the Year for Priests, a year that begins on June 19th, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Year for Priests is dedicated to St. John Marie Vianney, who died 150 years ago on August 4th. Pope Benedict has declared him as the Patron Saint of all priests of the world. The year’s theme will be “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests.”
To find out more about St. John Vianney, Salt + Light producer and host Mary Rose Bacani interviews Saint Luke Productions & Luke Films, a Washington-based company dedicated to evangelizing and renewing the culture through theatre and the media. For two and a half years, they have been working on their live production on John Vianney, which is a perfect introduction to the life and vision of the saint. Salt + Light producer and host Sébastien Lacroix interviews Père Jean-Philippe Nault, Rector of the Shrine in Ars. Fr. Tim Gallagher, OMV, who has spent much of his priesthood working with seminarians, explores St. John Vianney’s discernment between parish work and contemplative life in a monastery in his book entitled Spiritual Consolation: An Ignatian Guide for the Greater Discernment of Spirits.
To find out more about the importance of the formation of priests and how St. John Vianney is an inspiration, producer and host Mary Rose Bacani spends some time with Fr. Bill McGrattan, Fr. Steve Wlusek and Fr. Frank O’Connor, diocesan priests who have worked with the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska, and presently work with St. Peter’s Seminary, the major seminary for the Diocese of London, Ontario.
Viewers will also get a sneak peek at a shoe of St. John Vianney, which is on display at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Ontario until Labour Day courtesy of the Basilian Fathers. To read Gabriella Catolino’s blog entry about this exhibit you can do so on the Salt + Light blog.
ABOUT SALT + LIGHT
About Catholic Focus:
Catholic Focus is a current affairs program that examines in depth Catholic themes and personalities. You can watch Catholic Focus on Salt + Light Television daily at 7pm and 11pm with a morning repeat at 7:30am (all times Eastern).
About Salt + Light
Established in 2003, the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, headquartered in Toronto, ON, Canada is dedicated to bringing our viewers current events and perspective of the Church into the home of Catholics and Christians around the world. From Vatican events to Salt + Light’s very own innovative and thought-provoking series and documentaries, we offer multi-lingual programs that investigate, explain and celebrate issues related to our Catholic Faith.
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Salt + Light Television is now available nationally on Bell TV (Channel 654), in Western Canada on Shaw (Channel 160), in Ontario on Rogers Digital Cable (Channel 395), and Cogeco Digital Cable (Channel 185), in Québec on illico Vidéotron digital TV (Channel 242), and in the Maritimes through EastLink Digital Cable (Channel 356).
To arrange an interview with the producer or to obtain a copy of the screener or for any other further information - media contact:
Christopher Ketelaars
Marketing & Communications Manager
Phone: 416-971-5353 ext 245
Mobile: 416-892-1729
cketelaars@saltandlighttv.org
