The Emmy Award-winning documentary series, Sunday to Sunday, is back this August with a new highly anticipated installment. Dedicated to “making preaching better,” the series has been exploring the profound impact of well composed homilies and priestly guidance. The latest episode “On the Journey,” will document the prolific pastoral works of parishioners at St. Monica’s Church, in Santa Monica, California.
St. Monica’s has a reputation for ministering to high profile Catholics, with such names in their ranks as former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, and football star Tom Brady. The list of sensational personalities is impressive, but it’s about to get longer as “On the Journey” brings attention to the works of several average parishioners who perform extraordinary deeds. Their missions are different, but they have each found inspiration in the homilies of Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson, pastor of St. Monica’s.
“On The Journey”
The documentary focuses on four parishioners from St. Monica’s Church who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. These individuals recognized areas of the Christian community that need improvement and have taken it upon themselves to follow the call of Christ.Sunday to Sunday describes the episode in a press release:
“‘On the Journey’ features a top executive and former gubernatorial candidate who trades his position in finance for college teaching, and we see how a psychologist prepares St. Monica’s young couples for marriage and life. As the story unfolds, the audience discovers that true happiness comes from service to others.”
The production company reportedly spent a year following the four subjects of the documentary. Their humanitarian efforts are made all the more vivid by masterfully directed cinematography. Indeed the imagery is just as beautiful as the story as they take viewers through California city streets and arid African landscapes.
One of the most touching stories comes from Jill Tabit, founder of New Dawn Africa. When St. Monica’s Church was organizing a service trip to Africa, Tabit jumped at the opportunity to help. During the trip, she identified the need for a new hospital and, with no experience, she began the undertaking to build the medical facility. This successful, yet arduous project led to a life-long vocation in non-profit work.
Sunday to Sunday
The message at the heart of Sunday to Sunday is the profound value pastoral instruction has in daily Christian life. After their remarkable testimonies, each parishioner brings the conversation back to Monsignor Torgerson and the inspirations gleamed from his preaching.
Executive producer Father Michael Russo commented on the show:
“What’s unique about the St. Monica documentary ‘On the Journey’ is that we’re focusing primarily on the inspired work of parishioners. Ultimately, the journey of a Christian is a journey of moving forward in faith. The four parishioners we feature here exemplify that.”
Sunday toSunday will live stream “On the Journey” on August 27, the feast day of St. Monica, at 7:00 p.m. (PDT). The stream can be viewed at Stmonica.net, or at the Sunday to Sunday website.
Visit Sunday to Sunday to learn more about this highly anticipated release. For regular updates, follow them on Facebook. Watch previous episodes on YouTube.
And today we celebrate...