Catholic interview

A 1296 Word Interview with Jose Pulido

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Jose Pulido via phone call on March 7th and 14th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Your personal journey from being a “staunch, articulate atheist” to Catholic evangelist is fascinating. Could you share more about that mystical encounter with the Holy Family that changed your life?

Absolutely, it was December 24, 2011. Christmas Eve The Gothic Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. In my Colombian tradition, it was tough to celebrate together with my family. My sister and mother were back home. My brother and father were with me in Spain but decided not to come to Mass. I was wandering the city and was talking to the poor and offered them prayers since I didn’t have money on me. I heard the Mass bells ringing and I entered the church and started making my way to the front. Looking back on this experience, it was an exercise of spiritual poverty and grace. I thought I was going to be with my family during Christmas Eve Mass. The Spanish used at Mass was a different dialect (Cataline) that I wasn’t used to speaking so I only understood every tenth word. This wasn’t what I wanted at that moment because I felt down and like I failed. 

Very clearly I heard the voice of Satan. He was gloating about how he separated my family and that I lost and that I would never have a whole family. 

I oriented my heart toward the Lord during this time to help from not having a breakdown. During this time, the Blessed Virgin Mary spoke to me telling me that I have always been part of the Holy Family and that I alway had the perfect family. This experience happened to me while I was still in Mass. During the collection, I had two coins and Satan came back telling me that I didn’t have the right offering and was a sinner. How could I be a member of the perfect family if I was imperfect? I felt this weight again and went back to the Lord. I felt consolation from Mary and Joseph. 

They again encouraged me that I have an inheritance and have the right to ask for the graces. 

This was a pretty emotional experience, I had tears and snot, I was not attractive at the moment. Again, Satan tempted me telling me that while the Holy Family might accept me that the Church wouldn’t. I felt crushed again. 

I again felt Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in my heart encourage me to give this Church a chance. During the sign of Peace, there was a lady who still gave me the sign of peace despite my appearance. So Satan went away.

The next message I was sent was that Jesus was present in the Eucharist. On the way back to the hotel, I received the fifth message, I was coming down with traveler’s sickness. The person who was taking care of me was my dad. I came to this realization that in order for me to experience the love of Saint Joseph and Mary that you need to go to your parents. Some people think the Holy Family is a replacement for your family and parents. And maybe that is in extraordinary circumstances like Saint John Paul II, but in most ordinary cases you need to love your parents to find the love of the Holy Family. 

Holy Family

In your book, you mention combining Sacred Tradition with modern behavioral science. How do these two seemingly different approaches work together to create effective evangelization methods?

Many Catholics feel intimidated or unprepared when it comes to sharing their faith.

What’s one common misconception about evangelization that you’d like to dispel?

That evangelization has to be awful or a fight. Evangelization can be joyful and loving! There’s no contradiction between joyfulness and truth. 

You’ve taught thousands of people through workshops across North America. What’s the most surprising transformation you’ve witnessed in someone applying your evangelization techniques?

The most surprising thing is the upside up transformation. Adult children go from not wanting to go to Mass to now volunteering with their mom with local religious orders. 

I was coaching this mom and she and her daughter were yelling at each other about the faith. After one coaching session and three weeks later, they were going to Mass and hugging each other. 

When you approach it with a craftsmanship of love. For example, grandma’s cookies aren’t great because she is perfect, it is because she has developed her craft of baking over decades. And that is how my work has been effective, not because I’m perfect but because I took the time to learn this craft with love. 

And we have this language used by the Holy Family, found in Scripture. It feels good to evangelize, it’s kind of controversial to say, but it should feel good to evangelize our faith. It is the work of the Holy Spirit! 

We always talk about the evangelizee, but never the evangelizer. This book is about how parties thrive. We have to love ourselves (not just the person we are evangelizing or just ourselves). It is both/and.

Your background includes Ivy League education and corporate experience. How has your secular professional background influenced your approach to Catholic evangelization?

Mass is not boring
Mass is unboring…bring your coworker to daily Mass this month!

Immensely! In two ways. The first way it really opened my eyes to ways of what was possible with evangelization. Routinely, I would bring my colleagues to daily Mass. 

The second ways was uncovering the means to accomplish this good. I had various companies talking about religion during the lunch hour. It wasn’t because I was unique, it was because I really wanted to evangelize and I developed this craft. Anybody can learn this. The craft is to dream like Joseph, talk like Mary, and to make all things new like Jesus. We all have an inheritance to claim those things. We must be our shoulder to the wheel. The doctor must read the Scripture to found how faith and reason interact. The accountant must read Scripture and attend Mass to see how faith and reason interact. Like one of the core principles for the Marines which is “Every Marine,  a rifleman”, in the Catholic space it should be similar: “Every Catholic, an evangelist.” Just like how the Marines are successful with great training, so too Catholics in order to be successful need great training.

In developing the craft in my classes it is always about how to apply this to sharing the faith. 

You mention teaching people to “dream like Saint Joseph” and “speak like Our Lady.” Could you explain what these spiritual practices look like in everyday conversations with non-believers?

To dream like Joseph you have to see everything and everyone (including yourself) as God sees. 

To speak like Mary you have to be willing to express yourself regarding the faith. You have to be willing to talk about your personal connection to the faith. 

For Catholics who feel they’ve tried everything to reach loved ones who have left the faith, what hope or fresh perspective does your approach offer them?

Pray hope don't worry Padre Pio

Great evangelization should be life giving for the evangelist, at least a lot of the time. The Lord says the summary of faith is to love God with all your heart and love others as yourself. 

It is necessary to love others as yourself. The gift of love must go both ways. In order to love others as yourself we must first love ourselves. When the Lord looks at the Rich Young Man in the Gospel of Mark, it says that the Lord looked at him and loved him. If the Lord looks at us and loves us, then when we look in the mirror at ourselves should we not also love ourselves? 

Where is the best place for my audience to learn more about you? 

On Instagram at @share.faith.now

About Jose:

Jose M. Pulido draws from 15+ years of experience evangelizing in various secular settings to inspire and equip others to share Christ.

His experience includes evangelizing at universities, Fortune 500 companies, and various non-profits (in the US, Latin America, and Asia).

He’s also advised numerous organizations and parishes on evangelization and catechesis through staff trainings, public workshops, & retreats. He started evangelizing for the Lord at George Washington University’s Newman Center, where he was the first disciple of FOCUS when they joined the campus. He’s worked with Georgetown University on Young Adult Latino Ministry, having founded Catholic Latino Leadership Initiative, while working as a young adult in Washington, DC. He is a spokesman for The Mary Foundation – A non-profit dedicated to the distribution of sacramentals and evangelization materials (www.catholicity.com). He has appeared on ESNE TV, doing a three-part series on Evangelization for the segment Mujeres De Encuentro. He is also a Senior Advisor at Omnia Catholic, a social media ministry aimed at supporting young adult ministries. Jose Pulido is a member of the Catholic Speakers Organization. This is the leading resource for faith-based speakers. He is a frequent presenter on the University Series in Ventura County, a series aimed at supporting faith formation for adult Catholics. He is also a member of Fruitful Futures Project, a non-profit dedicated to helping others find fruitfulness in their callings. He is part of the leadership team for That Man Is You (TMIY) at his parish.  

​He has a Masters from Yale University and a Bachelors from George Washington University. He speaks English, Spanish, Japanese, and is hilarious in Korean & Tagalog.

​He is most relaxed when reading Sacred Scripture, doing origami, going for a nice walk, or showing others how to engage in life-giving evangelization.  

Thank you for sharing!

A 689 Word Interview with the Founder of The Barricade Guard

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed John Flynn, founder of The Barricade Guard, via phone call on March 14th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What inspired you to create The Barricade Guard?

The Barricade Guard began in early 2023. It began as a book project, with the main mission being to strengthen Catholic families both physically and spiritually and defend the Church (domestic and Universal). My goal with the YouTube videos is to inspire parents, more particularly fathers, to be spiritual leaders and protectors of their family. 

How has your vision for strengthening Catholic families evolved since you started?

That’s an interesting question. I think as I was getting started I was thinking a lot about the spiritual health in terms of passing on the faith and a reasoned defense. On the physical health side I was thinking exercise and food. Regarding the physical side, it evolved to focus more on the physical defense of your family should an emergency come up. I am looking for new ways to share with families especially as it relates to current issues and how they can help defend their domestic Church. 

You emphasize both spiritual and physical preparation in your mission. Could you share how you see these two aspects working together in helping families defend the Church?

For me personally, I think a couple things affected my experience. Coming out of my college years, I fell into bad habits and wasn’t taking my faith seriously. Before I had my desire to take my faith seriously, I wanted to improve on my physical side, exercising, going to the gym. As I improved my physical health and became more disciplined I was inspired to take more ownership of my faith. 

My girlfriend, now my wife, was a convert to the Church and asked me questions about the Catholic Faith. She challenged me to learn more about our Faith. Through the lens of Theology of the Body and seeing the union of the human person as body and soul inspired me to want to help promote this to others. 

The theme “spiritual warfare” appears in your content. How do you help families understand and engage with this concept in practical, everyday ways?

I think spiritual warfare is very real. We live in a time when people might downplay the reality of the Devil. They might think about how everyone goes to Heaven and downplay the reality of evil. With Christ on our side, we ultimately don’t have anything to fear. As parents raising kids in their formative years, we can adequately equip them with the tools when they face temptations. 

Knowing the tools and having the proper wisdom from the Holy Spirit is how I am thinking to equip parents on this issue. 

Christ has the final victory, but our individual battles are still ongoing. 

Exactly! On an aside, the Barricade Guard, some people might think that the word barricade means leaving the world or turning away and closing yourself off in a fortress. It is more like protecting your family. Father Boniface Hicks on an episode of Pints with Aquinas talked about righteous anger as the barricade holding proper boundaries between the sin of wrath and permissiveness. It’s the virtue that lies in the middle of the two extremes. 

What do you believe are the biggest challenges Catholic families face today, and how does The Barricade Guard specifically address these challenges?

I think the secular world is recognizing we are living in a post-Christian world. One challenge is to raise our children in the faith and to instill a sense of gratitude for our Catholic faith. 

Secondly, the increase of technology and how to protect our children and teaching them how to use and navigate this technology (AI, social media). 

On the physical side, being prudent with how to discern the best way to protect your physical health (with the constant change of various diet trends). There are common elements that work.

All of these topics I try to address throughout the videos and content on The Barricade Guard.  

Where can my audience learn more about The Barricade Guard?

Please Like and Follow on:

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BarricadeGuard

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BarricadeGuard

Instagram – barricade_guard

X – @BarricadeGuard

Locals – barricadeguard.locals.com www.barricadeguard.com

About John:

I am a Catholic husband, I.T. Specialist, and father of six young children (ages 2 to 14).  My wife and I have been married for sixteen years, are involved with marriage and vocation ministries through our parish and diocese, and homeschool all of our children.  I also serve on our parish’s security team, and am a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Thank you for sharing!

An 819 Word Interview with a Byzantine Catholic

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Dalton, founder of The Salty Catholic Instagram meme account, via phone call on March 8th 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What was your path to Byzantine Catholicism, and was there a specific moment when you realized this tradition was home for you?

I am a convert, I grew up as a Southern Baptist in Tennessee. I became Catholic when I joined the Army in 2019. Less than a year ago I became a Byzantine Catholic. The only Rite the Archdiocese of the Military Services have is the Roman Rite. So I joined the Roman Rite and later became an Eastern Catholic. 

During my conversion I was discerning between the Orthodox and Catholic Church and that Eastern spirituality appealed to me. 

I was formally accepted by the bishop in 2023 shortly after I separated from the army. 

How many different Eastern Rites did you look at before your final discernment? 

Chaldean, Melkite, Byzantine. I settled on the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church. 

How do you use humor in your memes to communicate deeper truths about Eastern Catholicism?

It’s just a matter of helping people discover the relatability of life and helping make that connection with the faith. 

Things that come up where I crack a little joke when the circumstances arise. 

How long have you had your Instagram account?

Since 2020, my reasoning is very boring. One day I found various meme templates and added Catholic captions to them. People started sharing them. 

What’s your favorite meme that you made?

It’s between two of my more recent ones. I made one using the crucifix and the second was about going to the Divine Liturgy vs. going to the club. 

Byzantine Catholics have a rich tradition of iconography – how has this visual tradition influenced your approach to creating memes?

In a certain way, memes can be a form of sacred art. If you can find a way to include that spiritual truth to it. In a modern understanding you could make that connection.

What’s your favorite icon? 

I think my favorite icon is the one I keep in my classroom. It’s called “Divine Ascent” . It’s related to the doctrine of theosis. The icon was originally found in Saint Catherine’s Monastery, located on Mount Sinai. 

What’s one Byzantine Catholic practice or tradition you wish more Roman Catholics would discover and appreciate?

I have a couple that jump to mind. The first one is pretty standard, I wish more Roman Catholics would embrace the Jesus Prayer. It’s pretty much constant for me. As much as I can I devote my time to that prayer. 

And the second practice is to embrace specifically Eastern iconography. This type of iconography takes you deeper into the spiritual life. 

Where are good places for Eastern iconography?

A lot of Eastern monasteries will create these types of icons. It’s always good to support them.

Who are your favorite Eastern saints, and how have they shaped your spiritual life?

There are some that are culturally and traditionally to Eastern Catholicism. One I recommend is Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ. He is an amazing guy, he was an Orthodox Christian, his life was centered around humility and looking foolish for Christ. 

Similar, but different, Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain is another favorite of mine. Everyone sought his advice. He was popular and his quotes are widely circulated. Any devoted Apostolic Christian should adapt his advice.

What’s the most surprising or unexpected reaction you’ve received from your meme content?

All of it. The fact that anyone appreciated what I created. I didn’t have any expectation of this recognition when I started the account. 

The Salty Catholic’s second favorite meme.

How do you navigate explaining the distinctions of Byzantine Catholicism to those who assume all Catholics practice the same way?

The explanation I give to my students is that it’s the same belief with different perspectives and practice. 

In what ways do you see your meme page building bridges between Eastern and Western Catholic traditions?

I do see that happening but it is an unintentional byproduct of my account. I am seeing an uptick of Eastern Orthodox following me (I notice in the comments section and the occasional DM).

What aspects of Byzantine liturgy and prayer life have been most transformative in your personal relationship with Christ?

I’ll have to think about that for a second, there is something in particular about the liturgy that calls the individual just profoundly as it calls the collective. The perspective I noticed in the Roman Rite was that the individualistic spirituality was set aside. During the Divine Liturgy, individuals are called while the collective is also drawn deeper into the life of God during the liturgy. 

If Roman Catholics could take one thing from the Byzantine tradition to enrich their faith, what would you recommend?

Other than the Jesus prayer and iconography, I think probably the asceticism. I think there’s a temptation in Western spirituality to be afraid of living the faith in such a radical way. Eastern spirituality calls all to live this ascetical life.

About The Salty Catholic:

Hello! I am the Salty Catholic! I am a Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic. I’m also a part-time mememaker, a full-time husband, and a full-time high school theology teacher. I have two degrees in theology, and I’m pursuing doctoral studies in theology as well. While seeking my own theosis in this life, my hope is to also bring orthodox knowledge of the faith to others through humor and goodwill.

Thank you for sharing!

A 740 Word Interview with Joe Coleman

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joe Coleman via phone call on March 12th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What inspired you to specifically focus on helping Catholic business owners with their podcasts rather than pursuing a broader market?

We work with pretty much anyone who wants to create Catholic content but our primary focus is Catholic business owners. I have audio-produced a variety of Catholic projects over the years. I really didn’t see serving this specific niche. It seemed to be that Catholics who are running businesses according to the teachings of the Gospel were underserved. It fills a need that hasn’t gotten as much attention as non-profits and ministry. 

How did your experience at KNOM Radio in Alaska shape your approach to podcast production?

That’s a good question, I worked at KNOM as a producer, on-air host, and a writer. I am very grateful to KNOM for teaching me about the fundamentals of audio-production. A large part of what I did was in-studio interviews or longer form audio packages. I got experience in storytelling and what makes a good conversation. I learned how to help guests get their point across. 

You mention that podcasts are “the best medium to build audience trust” – can you share an example where you’ve seen this trust develop between a Catholic business owner and their audience?

We helped develop a  podcast called Making Every Class Catholic by Dr. Brett Falkeld where he talked to Catholic educators. He used the podcast to talk to interesting people like the Archbishop of Vancouver. He provided this content for professional and personal enrichment to show how teachers can make all their classes Catholic. He used the podcast to drive people to his subscription community for educational resources. The podcast was a marketing vehicle to help his business to be the first point of contact. 

One of the best things about broadcasting is that you can talk about a problem that speaks to the listeners and makes them feel like you are having this one-on-one conversation. You can scale this conversation while still keeping it intimate. 

Saint Maximilian Kolbe is your studio’s namesake – how does his legacy influence your work philosophy?

He has a newspaper/periodical that is still in existence: Knight of the Immaculata. Because of this, one of his patronages is that of communication. His biggest claim to fame is his sacrifice in Auschwitz. It is easy to lose sight of heroism in modernity. It is easy to forget that you still can do great things. Our studio is to help businesses tell great stories. We strive for excellence and holiness like the saints. While I will likely not reach the same level as Saint Maximilian, he is still a good model to look up to and inspire myself and my business. 

What’s the most significant transformation you’ve witnessed in a client’s business after launching their podcast?

I think of Dr. Falkeld’s podcast. Using it as a marketing vehicle is powerful. The podcast is still a source of traffic to his community. Podcasts as a medium are playing the long-game. You can play the short game with viral posts on social media. But podcasting in general is playing the long-game. 

I think the reality is that not everyone is going to be seeing immediate success. Think in terms of months and years versus days. It’s tough to say any business is going to be transformed right away when launching a podcast. 

We produce a show called Catching Foxes. It has been going on for ten years. The personal fulfillment the hosts continue to receive from this experience is invaluable to the amount of friends they developed through their podcast. 

Looking ahead, how do you see Catholic podcasting evolving over the next few years?

That’s a good question! I think that space probably expands. It will likely evolve similar to how the podcasting industry in general has expanded. The fact we had presidential candidates this past year going on podcasts. Four years ago this was inconceivable. 

The one objection I hear is that the market is so saturated. While there are a lot of podcasts, there is not a saturation of high quality Catholic podcasts. For every Pints with Aquinas, there are 100 “not- Pints with Aquinas”. 

The Catholic world moves slow in the tech space. There’s still time to hop on and start a podcast that’s high quality. 

Where’s the best way for my readers to learn more about your work? 

They can visit our website at saintkolbestudios.com or email me at joe@saintkolbestudios.com.

About Joe: 

Joe Coleman is the Founder and Director of Audio Production at Saint Kolbe Studios. He started his audio career in 2019 as an on-air host, producer, and writer at the oldest Catholic radio station in the US, KNOM Radio in Nome, Alaska. Now, he lives in Tyler, Texas with his wife and soon-to-be-born daughter. P.S. Want a free podcast studio? Seriously! Saint Kolbe Studios is giving away five full podcast setups to new retainer clients. We want to lower the barrier to entry and help you tell your story. Head to saintkolbestudios.com to learn more.

Thank you for sharing!

An 845 Word Interview with Cameron the Catholic

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Cameron Riecker via phone call on February 17th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

How did you get involved in Catholic apologetics? 

Well, I supposed initially it started when I was dating a Protestant girl in college. We started talking about our future. Through that relationship and a real occasion to study (through Augustine’s work and other Church teachings). After that relationship ended with the girl, I developed a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I went into seminary in 2018 (eventually discerned out) and I am married now with two children. During these experiences I learned I had a knack for theology and explaining the faith to others. 

Much of modern Catholic apologetics focuses on defending the faith against secular critiques. How do you balance addressing contemporary challenges while staying rooted in the Church’s traditional apologetic approaches from figures like Augustine and Aquinas?

It’s just an application of the same knowledge to different situations. The Church has already answered most of these questions. It’s a matter of presenting these questions and defenses of the faith in a way modern readers can understand but the main aspects of the answers are the same. 

Your channel covers both theological depth and accessibility for seekers. Could you share how you approach making complex Catholic doctrines understandable without oversimplifying their richness?

You proceed to the unknown through the known. The knowledge of principles allows you to proceed to unknown conclusions. In order to be a good teacher you need to know what your students already know and where you want to guide them.

I think God has been able to give me the ability to use analogies to help teach the faith. In order for people to get the concept at a basic level I think these stories and analogies are helpful. 

What has been the most surprising or transformative insight you’ve gained through your work in Catholic apologetics, from studying the tradition? 

I think one of the more profound insights I got from studying Saint Thomas Aquinas is the imminent proximity that God exists. This notion that anything good I do or anything someone else does is that it is because of God. All that is evil comes from creatures. All that is good comes from God. Isaiah 26:12 refers to this. God is sustaining our being all the time. Having my eyes opened to this changed things for me.

Engaging with people’s questions/comments?

People are really fascinated with the Blessed Virgin Mary for good or ill. It is the most common objection related to this subject. The Devil realizes that at this point in human history Jesus has given a lot of influence to Mary. Satan can see the spiritual battlescape and he knows that once people receive Mary they are out of his grasp. 

Many young Catholics today struggle with questions about faith and science. Which resources or approaches have you found most effective in demonstrating the harmony between Catholic teaching and scientific understanding?

I taught senior physics from 2020-2024. Studying physics is studying God’s creation. There is nothing for authentic religion to be concerned about science. The main principle is that God is the author of creation and the Scriptures go hand-in-hand. 

When engaging with people from other faith traditions or non-believers, what do you find is the most commonly misunderstood aspect of Catholic teaching, and how do you address it?

It’s always Mary. I address that a little bit and why. The main distinction that Protestants struggle with is that you can venerate a saint without worshiping them. Not fully understanding the classical distinction between latria, hyperdulia, and dulia.

Your channel aims to serve both lifelong Catholics and seekers. Could you share a particular moment or conversation that exemplifies why you believe apologetics remains vital for the Church today?

Once again going back to the Mary thing, recommending the Rosary has been fruitful in my work. Saint Louis de Montfort said in his book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Mary has produced, together with the Holy Ghost, the greatest thing which has been or ever will be— a God-Man; and she will consequently produce the greatest saints that there will be in the end of time.”

Looking ahead, what do you see as the most pressing challenges facing Catholic apologetics in the next decade, and how can we best prepare to address them?

I think sexual ethics is coming down the pipe. Additionally, the role of the Pope internationally. Many people have lived their life without knowing who the Pope is even now in the 21st century. We respond to this by making distinctions and defending the same faith the Church has taught for 2000 years and pray. That’s it! 

About Cameron:

Cameron Riecker is a Catholic apologist, life coach, and speaker who lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and two kids. 

When he’s not working, he enjoys basketball, weightlifting, and going on hikes with his family.

Thank you for sharing!

A 1013 Word Interview with Industrious Family about Fabiola

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Kathleen, Mary, and Faustina Bowen via phone call on October 21st, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Images were provided courtesy of Kathleen Bowen.

How did you come across the book Fabiola?

Faustina: We attended Our Lady of Victory Homeschool and this book was part of the 9th grade curriculum. The author told the story of Saints Sebastian and Agnes differently than you heard before. Saint Pancratius is another saint you discover in the book that you don’t hear about often.

Is he a prominent character?

Yes, both in the book and our film adaptation.

“Fabiola draws parallels between third-century Rome and our contemporary world.”

When did you seriously consider making this a film?

Mary: In 2018 we made a feature film with a budget of about $5000 called “Outlaws of Ravenhurst”. In 2020, we made another feature length (Grisly Grisell) and made a short film between now and then to perfect our skills. We knew after this short film we wanted our next feature film to be Fabiola. Over the past five years we have been working on this project. We have five drafts of this film.

Could you share specific examples from the film that you think will particularly resonate with modern audiences?

Faustina: Fabiola really talks about Rome when it is on the brink of collapse. I feel like a lot of people in our day feel like our culture is in a period of collapse. Fabiola ends on a note of hope. High times in history also come from the brink of low times or times of trial. And we may be on the brink of that (hope) with our society.

In adapting this historical narrative for the screen, how did you balance staying true to the historical period while making it accessible and meaningful for today’s viewers?

Mary: When we took the book and turned it into a screenplay we found some of the characters didn’t always have situations that translate to today. With some of the saints they didn’t seem to have personalities, we wanted to show that these characters are individuals and we wanted to showcase both their weaknesses and strengths to show how they can be relatable to us today.

For example, some of the saints were very lofty and aloof. When you are writing a script you are peeling the character apart like an onion to see the layers. We gave the characters a particular vice in the story to make it more relatable. The saints were focused on trying to overcome the vice whereas the other pagan characters weren’t as interested in overcoming the vices. So when we re-added the flesh/depth of the character these saints were different from what the original text portrays (which was more one-dimensional).

The film seems to explore themes of sacrifice and unwavering faith. Could you tell us about a particular scene or character arc that you feel most powerfully conveys these themes?

Faustina: I would say one of the most powerful examples of this is a fictional character (Syra), the Christian slave of Fabiola. Syra said, “She is sacrificing every moment of her life to bring the Gospel to Fabiola.

Kathleen: While the themes of sacrifice and faith are strong, I really think the audience is going to leave the theater with a strong sense of forgiveness from the film. In a lot of ways the film could be titled, Fulvius, after the villain. Our film will highlight the Catholic understanding of forgiveness which is really about asking God for forgiveness, then forgiving ourselves, and it’s really a bonus if others forgive us.

What inspired you to choose this specific story from Christian history, and what unique perspective does Fabiola offer compared to other faith-based films?

Faustina: Two of the characters in Fabiola are converted like how Peter and Paul are converted. One character is converted more through words than a dramatic way. She has a more sophisticated conversion. Another character has more of a Pauline conversion (knocked-off his horse). Something very momentous occurs to him and this causes him to change his ways.

In creating this film, what challenges did you face in depicting the early Christian experience in a way that would speak to both Catholic and broader audiences?

Mary: We didn’t compromise the dialogue (the word Catholic doesn’t appear in the script- we use the term Christian). Hopefully, this film is a way to bring Protestants into a realm that these are people (the martyrs) they can find heroes in. One major sticking point might be Constantine, but he is not a major figure in Fabiola.

Faustina: The thing I wanted to add, we recently watched the old Charlton Heston The Ten Commandments and we want the quality of the film to be like that movie. While it’s a Protestant made film it still appealed to Catholics. Likewise, we see our vision for the film to be similar to that high quality of faith that it appeals to a broader Christian audience. One of the patrons is actually a Baptist.

As this is your fifth film, how has your approach to creating faith-based content evolved, and what lessons from your previous projects influenced the making of Fabiola?

Mary: Something we have learned over the years, that we haven’t heard criticisms from people is that the acting is bad. We have made the lines digestible, working on camera angles. Learning how to run schedules, working with a larger cast. Also, we have been able to shift our attention from filming to the more detailed things (better scripts, building the set in an existing structure that was in the Roman area).

Kathleen: Me watching Faustina and Mary directing this time I have noticed the amount of creativity and time spent in preparation has been impressive. The time dedicated to the details and preparation really made the difference with Fabiola. It has taken seven years to get to a point where the product turns out where it looks like a movie. None of us went to film school this was all self-taught.

How can my audience support you in this project?

Faustina: We have a newsletter for them to receive updates. They can also contribute or invest at Industrious Family.

About the Bowens:

Mary Bowen and sister Faustina along with their mother Kathleen have been producing and directing films for nearly a decade. Fabiola will be the Bowen family’s first film with a full budget projected to be $1.25 million.

Thank you for sharing!

A 972 Word Interview with Thomas Salerno about His Debut Children’s Book

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Thomas Salerno, via phone call on February 7th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What drew you to write about Blessed Nicolas Steno?

I’ve known about Nicolas Steno for a while. In college, I took a lot of geology classes and came across him in my textbooks. The textbooks rarely mentioned he was a priest. He is not well known even in Catholic circles. He’s not as familiar to people as Gregor Mendel. But Nicolas has been a hero of mine and I wanted to write about him. 

Because he is still “just” a blessed he doesn’t get as much “air-time” as a fully canonized saint. 

If you could sum up Nicholas Steno’s life in a couple sentences for my readers?

His life represents a relentless pursuit of truth. He came into the Catholic Church from a Lutheran family. No matter what subject he was studying, he was never afraid of where that journey towards truth would lead him. 

How did  you balance making complex geological concepts accessible to young readers while maintaining scientific accuracy?

That’s a great question. I tried to keep the book as jargon-free as possible without “dumbing” it down. I thought about it as if I was a 10 year old again. How would I process these concepts at that age?

Image courtesy of Word on Fire.

Your book connects scientific discovery with religious devotion. Could you share a particular moment in Steno’s life that you found most compelling in demonstrating this harmony between faith and reason?

I think it would probably be during his conversion story. Steno initially tried to reason his way to the faith by studying the Church Fathers. On All Souls Day, he had a very powerful experience when he perceived God personally telling him to join the Catholic Church. It was through an ordinary experience: he was about to make a wrong turn on the street and a passerby told him to go the other way. In his heart, Steno was wavering on “which way to go” (that is, whether to stay Lutheran or become Catholic) and he took those words as coming directly from God. 

As someone writing for children about both science and faith, how do you approach explaining the relationship between understanding God’s creation through scientific inquiry while maintaining a sense of wonder and reverence?

Another great question! I really try to communicate in my writing that scientific inquiry is a way for God to help us learn about His creation. It’s a way to give praise back to God and to give thanks for creating the beautiful, diverse, and complex world He has made. 

The title mentions “Tongue-stones” – could you tell us about the significance of these fossils in Steno’s work and how they became a gateway to his broader discoveries?

“Tongue-stones” is a name that people from centuries ago in Europe gave to fossils of sharks’ teeth. Steno was originally an animal anatomist. So when he dissected a shark, he noticed how their teeth were identical to tongue-stones; they were essentially petrified shark’s teeth. This allowed him to marshal evidence that fossils were actually what they were evident to be: remains of organisms from long ago. 

During your research, what surprised you most about Blessed Nicolas Steno’s journey from scientist to Catholic bishop?

Two things surprised me. Firstly, that he was still able to keep practicing science while performing his duties as a bishop. And the other thing that surprised me was how much trouble he got himself into in both the Protestant and Catholic areas. He was a reformer at heart so he didn’t have a whole lot of support from his congregations. At one point he was receiving death threats simply by opposing corruption in his diocese. 

Your book includes field-guide sketches and a glossary. How did you decide which visual elements would best help young readers connect with both the scientific and spiritual aspects of the story?

To be honest, I left that in the hands of my design team at Word on Fire. One thing I have learned in this experience is how much of a team effort it is putting together a children’s book. 

As a Catholic writer addressing scientific topics, what advice would you give to parents and educators who want to nurture both scientific curiosity and religious faith in children?

I think that the best advice I can give is to not be afraid to learn about these things with your children. If your child shows an interest in science or nature, nurture that interest, but also find out why they are interested and show celebrate that passion. Ask questions and be engaged with your children’s interests. 

I dedicated the book to my mom because she allowed me to be interested in my study of paleontology and fossils. She took me to museums and we collected various things from outside like rocks and minerals. She let me chart my own path of learning. 

Any last words of advice for my readers about how to grow in your Catholic faith? 

Two things recently have deepened my faith: Spiritual reading and a dedicated daily prayer routine. The Church provides a wealth of different types of prayer, but if you can establish that daily prayer time with God it will be a game-changer. 

Learn more about Thomas and his book by visiting: his Word on Fire interview.

About Thomas:

Thomas Salerno is a museum educator, author, freelance essayist, and podcaster from Long Island, New York. Thomas has a degree in anthropology from Stony Brook University and is the author of the debut children’s nonfiction book, The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones: How Blessed Nicolas Steno Uncovered the Hidden History of the Earth.

Thank you for sharing!