April 2007

Twenty-two New Priests & Mass with the Pope

by Steve Ray on April 28, 2007

SATURDAY EVENING After 16 days we finished filming today. We were able to get our “inside-the-Colosseum” footage without paying $6,000 per hour. Tomorrow Pope Benedict XVI will ordain 22 new priests in St. Peters at the 9 AM Sunday Mass. We just received tickets from Legionairie Brother Ben Cieply — with seats near the high [...]

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Fighting Every Obstacle in Rome

by Steve Ray on April 27, 2007

Fighting police and ambulance sirens, gawking tourists, packed streets, whining moter scooters, police wanting permits and multiple other obstacles, we still got a lot of good work done today. Even two medical emergencies back home weighed on our minds but did not stop us. Our crew is spectacular. Only scenes inside the Roman Colosseum remain [...]

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Day of Suffering and Death

by Steve Ray on April 26, 2007

Started the day at the newly re-opened chuch of Santo Stefano Rotundo. Janet and I have been eagerly awaiting its renovation for over eight years. It has 30-40 graphic painted murals depicting the gruesome torture and death of early Christians. I will post pictures when I get to the next good internet connection. Then on [...]

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Deep Under Ground

by Steve Ray on April 26, 2007

This is the first time I’ve had a chance to come up for air. Actully we’ve been deep underground a lot recently — today filming deep in the St. Callixtus Catacombs. Great footage including ancient paintings that few if any others have. I even found a rib. Then deep under San Clemente for a 1st [...]

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Here We Sit in Istanbul

by Steve Ray on April 23, 2007

We are now sitting in the Istanbul Airport waiting for our flight to Rome. They charged us $1350 to carry our gear from Izmir, through Istanbul to Rome–ouch! There are six of us: Janet, myself and the crew: videographer Joe Reynolds, sound guy Mike Riley, artistic director Tray Goodman and all around helper and grip [...]

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Proud Day for Catholics in Turkey – and for us!

by Steve Ray on April 22, 2007

Today we finished in Smyrna (Izmir Turkey). We have been able to do everything needed plus were blessed in many other ways by Our Lord. Today we shot the scenes on the Mediterranean Sea outside Ephesus. I was portraying the conversion of Justin Martyr. He was walking along the sea when approached by an old [...]

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Miracles–Where is the God of Polycarp?

by Steve Ray on April 22, 2007

Not sure how to begin, so much has happened in the last three days. But I will start with Miracles, then Monsignors, and finish with Ordinations—in Turkey! The miracles I mention are just a few of the ones most noteworthy, but are not the sum total. Miracle #1Every year or so my back pops and [...]

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Polycarp’s Skull

by Steve Ray on April 19, 2007

We got some great work done today in Smyrna (Izmir). We gained access to a piece of Polycarp's skull and were able to film all the necessary segments in Polycarp's Church. It was a nightmare getting the permits and actually getting in, but God was merciful. We believe Polycarp interceded for us. More later. Three [...]

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Prepare for the Skyline of Tomorrow

by Steve Ray on April 18, 2007

Europe is full of magnificent churches—Gothic, Baroque and even modern. Their steeples and crosses still dominate much of the skyline. They stand as impressive monuments to the Christian faith that built the free world and brought beauty and justice out of a pagan, barbarian wilderness. Today the churches in Europe are becoming museum pieces recalling the [...]

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Senseless Slaughter

by Steve Ray on April 18, 2007

Yesterday while surfing the internet and watching the BBC here in Antakya, we saw the news of the senseless slaughter at Virginia Tech. Some people don’t believe in original sin and its effects, but this kind of senseless wickedness should help clear up such foolishness. Sin is real and it has horrible effects, which is [...]

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Following Ignatius through Antioch

by Steve Ray on April 17, 2007

Just now I get a chance to write. After two days of flying from Detroit to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Istanbul and then Istanbul to Adana, we were exhausted but had to start early the next morning. We even missed Mass since we were in the air on Sunday and in Istanbul we never got out [...]

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Apostolic Fathers – Here We Come!

by Steve Ray on April 14, 2007

We are on our way to Turkey and Italy to film our next DVD Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith. In honor of the major cities we will visit, I am posting my articles on Acts for the city of Antioch, Ephesians for the city of Ephesus, and Romans for the city of Rome. It [...]

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Sophie Scholl

by Steve Ray on April 11, 2007

Several months ago we recommended a film called The Ninth Day in which a Catholic priest is released from Dachua for nine days. Now I would recommend a movie in a similar vein called Sophie Scholl: the Final Days. It is a true story; at least it is a dramatization of the final days of [...]

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Doubter2Devouter — Another Convert!

by Steve Ray on April 8, 2007

Read Jeff's story here and a picture of his baptism. Feel free to leave a Welcome for him in the Comment section below.

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Tens of Thousands Join Catholic Church in USA

by Steve Ray on April 7, 2007

Thousands to Join Catholic Church in U.S. WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 7, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Tens of thousands of people in the United States will join the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. According to numbers released by the U.S. bishops' conference, some 1,294 catechumens will be baptized, confirmed and [...]

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