professionals in directing, editing,
cinematography, and sound. But they
are so much more; they are instruments
God is using to catechize and lead
people to Him.
PRO-LIFE PREACHING
CATHOLIC GUIDANCE FOR END OF LIFE DECISION-MAKING
Photo Credit: John Fisher
By Kathleen M. Gallagher, Director of Pro-Life Activities, New York State Catholic Conference
Protecting the unborn is not the only way the friars are defending life.
The latest film project fresh from the Dominican Foundation's editing
room is in regards to end of life care. The following is Kathleen Gallagher's
experience of collaborating with Blackfriars Media on “Now and at the
Hour of Our Death,” a film project to help reveal the dignity of those
suffering terminal illness.
Like an unexpected gift from Heaven,
Blackfriars Media fell into our laps. We
had applied for a grant to make a film
that would communicate the Catholic
Church’s teachings on end of life
decision-making and, just as we received
the good news that the grant had been
awarded, our videographer was offered a
job in another state. What were we to do?
Someone happened to send me a
preview of a film Blackfriars Media
had recently completed. I was very
impressed, so we quickly scheduled a
meeting. Almost immediately, we knew
there was no competition.
The young men who make up
Blackfriars Media are skilled filmmakers:
We were privileged to collaborate with
them and their director, Father Gabriel
Gillen, O.P., as well as Father Nicanor
Austriaco, O.P., bioethicist and professor
of biology at Providence College, who
speaks with both clarity and compassion
about end of life issues, and Sister Marie
Edward Deutsch, O.P., the director of
nursing for the Dominican Sisters of
Hawthorne, an expert in palliative care
who is a living testament to the grace
and blessings that can accompany
patients at the end of their lives.
Our project has been launched at a time
when all of us are strongly challenged
to witness to the worth and dignity of
human life, when assisted suicide is
being heralded as “death with dignity”
and promoted across the country as a
courageous choice. The Catholic Church
encourages a peaceful and comforting
alternative, one that is artfully and
lovingly conveyed in the Blackfriars
Media film at www.catholicendoflife.org.
Now and At the Hour of Our Death
www.CatholicEndofLife.org
In collaboration with the bishops of New York,
Blackfriars Media created this film on the Catholic
mission of caring for those who are terminally-ill.
Featuring bioethicist Father Nicanor Austriaco,
O.P., and the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne who
care for cancer patients.
“Your support makes all the difference!
Thank you for supporting us as
we evangelize through all forms of
preaching, including film!”
Photo Credit: Robert Duncan
BlackFriars - Volume2015
Winter II, Issue I
7