The Campus Ministry Lounge is hosting viewings of the ten-part television series, "Catholicism" to celebrate internalization month at Seton Hall.
The Rev. Robert Barron, both face and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, is the mastermind behind this series, which received rave reviews from publications such as Canada's Salt and Light television network, America, the National Catholic Weekly and the Catholic News Service.
Inspired by Kenneth Clark's 1969 hit BBC series "Civilisation," "Catholicism" takes viewers on a virtual trip to fifty locations in sixteen countries, exploring the history and origins of Catholic art, literature, architecture, and music in churches, basilicas, and more.
"When you're talking about a 10-hour program, it would become tiresome to listen to a talking head for hours," Barron said.
Viewings of this series will take place every Wednesday and Thursday from 12:45-2 p.m. in the Campus Ministry Lounge. The last showing will be held Thursday, November 1 at 1:45 p.m.
According to the National Catholic Register, the production costs for this series were about $3 million, all raised through private donations.
The "Catholicism" production crew boasts names such as Mike Leonard, a correspondent of NBC's The Today Show and a parishioner of Chicago's Sacred Heart parish, where Barron worked for nine years. Leonard's family owns Picture Show, the film production company that helped create the "Catholicism" series.
Barron, who is well known for his avid use of social networking and modern technology to promote his message, uses what he calls "the beauty of Catholicism," and backdrops such as the Vatican and Jerusalem to visually stimulate viewers while teaching them of God's word through the art, literature, music and architecture displayed in each part of his series.
Barron says over 75 percent of Catholics today do not attend Mass on a regular basis. His "Catholicism" series was created to reach fallen-away Catholics who no longer have a role in their church's community and restore faith lost.
"The Catholic story is being told by the wrong people in the wrong way. We need to tell our own story. We need to get the message out to draw people in," Barron said.
