Many in the Catholic media world know filmmaker Rob Kaczmark of Spirit Juice Studios for his quality filmmaking. Fewer, however, realize that the trendsetting Catholic is also comfortable performing Upside Down Peg Wheelies and Rail Grinds.

As a teen growing up in Chicago’s Oaklawn neighborhood, Rob learned bike tricks from older kids, including one of the best BMX flatlanders in the world, Matt Wilhelm.

As a teen, Rob learned bike tricks from older BMX’ers.

“They were all about four years older than me, but they were super nice and friendly and welcomed me in and really helped to mentor me not only with bikes but also with life,” Rob explains.

Difficult maneuvers such as Barspins and Tailwhips are challenges to be mastered in the young sport.

“No one is born a good athlete or a professional BMX’er,” Rob points out. “When you first start off you learn a very basic trick. Once that trick is mastered you move on from there. … And over time the little tricks become bigger tricks and you get to know your body and the bike more. Then one day you find yourself doing huge, elaborate bike stunts, which are built on years and years of practice and commitment.”

The same can be said for our faith, as Rob’s life illustrates.

Along with two older sisters, Rob grew up as part of what he described as a fairly normal family. He attended mass on Sundays and CCD once a week, which at the time he says, “I had to do but not necessarily wanted to do.”

His first personal encounter with God came when a nun spoke during his CCD class and left prayer cards for each kid present. The prayer read: “Lord, help me to remember that nothing will happen to me today that you and I can’t handle together.”

The prayer led Rob to reflect. “It was the first time the thought came to me that ‘Oh! God is here to help me with my life. I don’t have to show up and do this on my own.’”

Each morning he would say this prayer, as well as the Serenity Prayer (“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”) To this day he continues to pray both along with a few others.

Tough times came in his eighth grade year. “I was alone with a lot of stuff. I felt abandoned,” he recalled. “I really leaned on God and he saw me through it.”

Leading youth group activities gave Rob a chance to serve but also to continue to form his own faith.

Soon after, his family took a trip to Medjugore that solidified his faith. “I really didn’t want to go but it became a catalyst for action in my faith. It pushed me to be more involved.”

There was not one “aha” moment while on the trip, he said.

“For me it was the overall experience of going on pilgrimage and really seeing all the things I believed about my faith coming out and feeling more real and concrete to me.”

By this time Rob had joined his parish youth group. Upon returning, his involvement increased, as did his sense of purpose.

“Being part of a youth group was important to me because it really helped aid in my own personal formation.”

In high school Rob led retreats and helped with catechesis. “I was able to share what I had already learned about my faith and it forced me to learn more as we would teach new subjects … I felt that with being there I was able to grow spiritually.”

Out of the blue Rob received a request that brought his flatlanding skills to the forefront. His looks and bike stunts had caught the eye of a former CCD teacher who recommended him for a starring spot in a commercial for a major department store. As a 16 year old, being the center of attention during a three-day shoot in downtown Chicago–complete with big trucks, loads of camera equipment and the fun and attention that goes with such a role—was a rush. “It was cool,” Rob remembered. “My friends would say they saw my commercial on TV. It was surreal. It was great.”

Those in the business advised him to pursue other commercial opportunities. Soon after, he was toting headshots to casting calls.

Not much time had passed before Rob realized that it wasn’t a perfect fit for him. “As I got deeper into it…I felt it was very egocentric. It was all about the self. … I was doing a lot with my youth group at the time. It was a battle: Do I give of myself or am I to be self-serving?”

His ministry work won out and he took a hiatus from auditions.

“My efforts and energy went into leading the youth group and organizing retreats; some were media retreats.”

While he has not returned as the star of commercials or music videos, he has returned to the set as an accomplished filmmaker, garnering special recognition along the way that includes a Telly Award in 2012 for “Palm Sunday,” a short film he created with Eric Groth of Outside da Box.

Similar to learning bike tricks, Rob believes growing in faith takes continual practice.

And all the while, from learning how to craft quality films to living his faith, flatlanding has served as a metaphor for pursuing life to the full as Christ offers.

“People often see those who are really good at their sport and they marvel at the tricks and wonder how someone could do something that is so dangerous,” Rob explains. “And although these sports can look inherently dangerous it’s looked at from a different perspective on the other end.”

Following Christ is similar. “No one is born with rock solid faith; we must practice it, day in and day out, listening to God and trusting him with all the things of our lives. We must get into a habit of following our faith.”

Thank you to all of these digital witnesses, and to the many campus ministers and media professionals who served as judges.

Now it’s your turn! Until June 2 you are invited to watch and vote for your favorite films. You may vote for as many films as you’d like, but may only cast one vote for each. Visit http://goodnessreigns.com/vote/ or click on the films below.

May Christ’s goodness reign!

YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY—

TOP WINNER: “Father John Nepil” by Seth DeMoor (Englewood, CO)

Honorable Mention:  

“C.I.A. Introduction to the YOUCAT” by John Reyes/Crux Sacra Productions
“All Things” by Sherwin Acidera/Katreina Gamil
“Lord of the Flies” by Kelly Butler
“Finding Rest” by Noelini Paison-Callueng/Sherwin Acidera
“Contraception” by Elisa Torres
“Games” by Jacob Machado
“Vocations Crisis?” by Inés Rocha
“Word in the World” by Susanna & Crew
“You Only Live Once” by Ernest Garcia

 
TEEN CATEGORY—

TOP WINNER: “Choosing Prayer” by Laura Tremblay and Quiet Waters (North Collins, NY)

Honorable Mention:
“Purity of Heart” by Renee Shumay
“Saint Michael vs. Satan” by Anthony Pires
“Little Vocations of Life” by Caleb Schmitz
“Restored” by Michael Kenney & John Neff
“Can’t Back Down” by Sarah Elmer & the Holy Spirit Parish Youth Group

Good Samaritan in Media Award*—

Top Winner: “The Mutunga Project” by Amy Dwight (Vancouver, British Columbia)

 *The Good Samaritan in Media Award recognizes a short film illustrating the goodness found in a present-day missionary or missionary organization.

All 2013 “Share the Story” Contest Participants

Young Adult Category

“All Things” by Sherwin Acidera   Ewa Beach, Hawaii

“Humble Yourself” by Shannon Brown   London, Ontario

“Lord of the Flies” by Kelly Butler   Damascus, OR

“Catholic Teachings & Traditions” by Alvin Chan   Metro Manila, Philippines

“The One” by Thomas Cheely   Chicago, IL

“Making A plane w/ Sacraments” by Eric Coppa-Cross   Melbourne, FL

“Take Advantage of It” by Evelyn Cordero   Lima, Peru

“Father John Nepil” by Seth DeMoor  Englewood, CO

“Word in the World” by Susanna of India

“Count It Joy My Son” by Reagan Elkins   Chickasha, OK

“Called to Love” by Angelica Figueroa   Napa, CA

“Verso L’Alto” by John Funk   Gaithersburg, MD

“You Only Live Once”  by Ernest Garcia   East Fallowfield, PA

“El Lugar de Los Hombres Pequenos” by Carlos Godoy   Bogotá, Colombia

“Ojos Azul Cielo” by Carlos Godoy   Bogotá, Colombia

“The Choice” by Adam Gruszynski   Cummings, GA

“Heart of Jesus Style” by Cyl Jarasa   Glendale, CA

“Games” by Jacob Machado   Steubenville, OH

“Christ, the Truth!” by Beth Mangum                  Greeley, CO

“This Little Light” by Jeremy Mallett   Vallejo, CA

“Love” by Diana Lourdes Eroza Osorio   Cuernavaca, Mexico

“The Rosary” by Kamil Papiez   Buda, TX

“Finding Rest” by Noelani Pasion-Callueng   Ewa Beach, Hawaii

“The Seven Catholic Sacraments” by Jovan Peter   Roseau, Dominica

“C.I.A. Introduction to the YOUCAT” by John Reyes  La Crescenta, CA

“Vocations Crisis?”  by Inês Rocha   Maia, Portugal

“Men of Faith” by Rafael Rodarte   Madera, CA

“Harvest” by Colton Sullivan   Glendora, CA

“Up or Down” by Jason Taylor   Ontario, Canada

“Humanae Vitae & “Contraception” by Elisa Torres   Charlotte, NC

“Ten Commandments” by Samuel Zamarron Vestavia Hills, AL

Teen Category

“WYD Saints” by Erick Cortez   Fort Smith, AK

“Can’t Back Down” by Sarah Elmer   Kimberly, WI

“A Day in the Life of a Priest” by Rafael Figueroa   Napa, CA

“Restored” by Michael Kenney/John Neff   Livonia, MI

“Sharing God’s Love” by Brigette Korth   McKinney, TX

“Why to a Priest” by John Lahey   Cupertino, CA

“Sacraments: A Source of Hope” by Lauren Marie Moore, Roseville, CA

“Saint Michael vs. Satan” by Anthony Pires   Terrace, British Columbia

“The Church Militant” by Peter Pustejovsky   Geneseo, IL

“Un Oasis en el Desierto” by Anallely Rojas  Mexico

“Little Vocations of Life” by Caleb Schmitz   Dodgeville, WI

“Purity of Heart”” by Renee of Ohio

“Choosing Prayer” by Laura Tremblay, North Collins, NY

Missionary Spirit Category

“YOUCAT Is Pro Life” by Br. Max Connolly   St Paul, MN

“The Mutunga Project” by Amy Dwight   Vancouver, British Columbia

“St. Joseph’s House” by Ernest Garcia   East Fallowfield, PA

“El Lugar de Los Hombres Pequeños”  by Carlos Godoy   Bogotá, Colombia

“MyFertilityMD” by Marya Jauregui   Newport Beach, CA

“Sharing God’s Love in Nicaragua” by Brigette Korth

“Everything Is Grace” by Matthew Marzorati   Jackson, NJ

“40 Days For Love” by John Sohl   Shepherdsville, KY

In his younger days Ernest tried as best he could to hold on to anger and hate due to an unhappy family life. His parents divorced and his mother tried as best she could to raise him.

“My ambition in life was to be everything my mother and God did not want me to be,” said Ernest. “I swore to never worship God and to never forgive my mother for the way she used her legal authority over me.”

In his early teenage years Ernest explained that his “religion” consisted of “Diabolic Heavy Metal music, pornography and the electric guitar.”

“I was a slave of Satan, and I explicitly showed it in my dress, words, and actions.”

At wit’s end, Ernest’s mother took him to live with a married couple, John and Donna Kurtz, and their 18 children after two other places failed to make any gains with Ernest.

“From the very beginning, Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz always showed loving kindness and care for me, even with my negative attitude and the things I did behind their backs … I could not help but be emotionally touched by how they saw my ingratitude for all the things they were doing for me and my contempt toward their faith, and still loved me.”

After some time Ernest couldn’t hold onto his anger, and surrendered to love—even forgiving his birth mom and asking for her forgiveness. “I was free to forgive, to open up to new relationships, to admit I was wrong, and realize the truth about God and His infinite goodness and love.”

Ernest now realized he had a well-ordered family life with a “dependable dad” and a “prudent mother”–and 10 brothers and eight sisters!

“For the first time, I willingly did small tasks to serve the family and began thinking of others more.”

Essential to this transformation was prayer, attending Mass and spending time with Jesus in adoration. “For the first time I felt true happiness and I was where I wanted to be.”

Ernest attended St. Philomena’s School, a school that furthered devotion to the faith and to critical thinking. John and Donna are also involved in the school. “It is their humble submission to God’s will, their selfless and compassionate love for others, and their strong faith and devotion to God that changed my life and the lives of so many others.”

Theirs is a story and mission Ernest felt compelled to share, which is why he turned to filmmaking. After making a fundraising film for St. Joseph House, Ernest began crafting funny and affirming films for his siblings’ special occasions.

Shooting and editing his 2013 Goodness Reigns contest film “You Only Live Once” proved challenging but making arrangements to borrow cameras and arrange the details of the project proved most difficult. Generally it was a good experience for him and his brothers. God willing, he will continue to save souls through filmmaking.

“We learned a lot, and I think it was worth it, especially since it was about souls and the glory of God.”

Watch Ernest’s contest film beginning May 1, 2013, when Goodness Reigns launches its People’s Choice Voting Campaign at www.goodnessreigns.com/blog.

March for Marriage:

This website and video give information and an explanation for the March for Marriage.

USA Today:

(A must-read!) This opinion piece is written by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and provides a good grounding on the issue and the fallout already being felt in states where redefining marriage has taken place.

Catholic Answers

Interview with Charles LiMandri

This interview looks at how Catholics should approach this topic compassionately and without judgment.

Interview with Charles LiMandri

A more secular look, this video discusses the “Madison Avenue Ad” campaign launched to redefine the institution of marriage. As has played out in other countries, the longterm result would and has begun to affect religious liberties and further the breakdown of marriage, particularly impacting children.

(2010): Interview with Tim Staples

This video touches on the complementarity of the sexes, and the campaign to redefine marriage–society’s “substructure.”

CBN News Channel: Theology of the Body and the redefinition of marriage (video and article)

Popular author Christopher West discusses how marriage mirrors our relationship with God and the reasonings why and ramifications if the institution is redefined.

Catholic News Agency:

Pediatricians Group Accused of Ignoring Data in Endorsing Gay Marriage (Article)

What is Marriage?

Catholics for the Common Good:

To better understand ways to approach this topic using a secular argument, check out this website and the book by Bill Mays “Getting the Marriage Conversation Right.”

With simple household items, a camera, a script and loads of patience you can try your hand at this appealing technique of storytelling.

GR filmmaker Diana Eroza Osorio of Mexico, who created “Beauty” using claymation for her 2011 film, offers the following tips.

1. Story and Organization: First, decide what story or message you would like to communicate. Keep it simple and short for your first attempt. Once you have your story and script, divide the action into each character’s movements. You may want to consider using a particular movement for characters repeatedly for this first project.  For instance, perhaps one character is always asking a question. Shoot the series of movements once and you can re-use it in other parts of your story.
2. Craft Earth-Friendly Characters: Using bio-degradable clay was important to Diana, who settled on making her clay using wheat flour, water, natural oil, salt and fire.
   “One of the challenges was that it was difficult to keep the characters in a position so I used a wire body inside each one,” she advises. Another problem is that the clay may dry fast so she kept the characters in re-useable plastic bags when not in use and had a bottle of oil close by to wet the characters while shooting her story.
3. Set the Scene: Diana has fun using bits of fabric, cardboard and her “big imagination” to create the scenes her characters grace.  “You can do wonders,” she says. To keep the process simple, you may want to consider writing a script where the action takes place in one location or where you make simple backdrops for characters.
4. Shooting the Story: Diana used a camera to take still photos, shooting every movement. This is where patience is a must!
   “I worked at night because the lighting was easier to control,” Diana adds. It’s important to be organized to avoid repeating shots. “Clay characters are like puppets and they need our hands to move and create movements step-by-step.”
5. Research and Email Diana with Questions: You may find other useful tips by searching the Internet and/or asking Diana. She would be happy to answer questions regarding the process. Email her at diana_eroza@yahoo.com.mx.

“I can’t say it was super easy,” Diana confessed. “Sometimes I needed my imagination, other times I needed patience and I always needed the grace of God to persevere. But it’s always worth a try if it’s to spread the wonders of God!”

Diana's simple church in Mexico.

What one notices first about Diana Eroza Osorio is her smile.

Diana traveled with Goodness Reigns to Madrid, Spain, for World Youth Day 2011 from her small town of Cuernavaca, Mexico. Her gentle spirit endeared her to the fellow pilgrims invited to present their films at the Goodness Reigns Film Festival during WYD’s Cinema Day.

Her first venture in filmmaking garnered her a trip to WYD.  “I started to create videos because of the invitation from Goodness Reigns. I don’t have much time in my life but I wanted to do something to spread the Gospel.”

Diana used flour, water and her knowledge of a computer program called Maya to produce a short clay-mation video entitled “Beauty.” (Watch it here!)

“The story was based on a personal experience. “When I was young some people said I was ugly, and that marked me.”

Now she understands God’s love for his creation and has shared it through her most recent video, “Amour.”

“Sometimes we accept bullying from magazines or people who supposedly love us. We can grow up without hope if we don’t know how much God loves us.”

The message of God’s love is one she hopes to share, particularly with those in her own community.

With many young people in her rural town unable to read but with access to some technology, videos become one tool for sharing the Gospel.

“We have young people who drop out of school because they need to work, but they go to the Internet and they see a lot of trash. If we offer the Gospel in video we can catch the attention of the youngest people and start to form saints.”

Her most recent advice to aspiring filmmakers, but more, to all people, is not to give up.

“Say ‘yes’ to God because God always has the best for you—and don’t forget to smile.”

Waiting for Pope Benedict XVI at World Youth Day 2011.

Entitled “For a young man of 85,” the video captures sentiments of many through video-conferencing with people from countries including Germany, Romaniz, France, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, Slovakia, Australia, Russia, the United States, New Zealand and China.

Take a  LOOK!

Surrounded by Catholicism and Protestant youth groups in his childhood and teenage years while growing up in Colorado’s beautiful Arkansas Valley, Seth wandered and dappled in and around Christianity until events led him to seriously consider the essence of the “capital T’ Truth.  As noted on his OneBillionStories.com blog, “Seth’s Christian limbo, and wandering with this ‘thing’ called Christianity came to a halt.” His entire world focus changed.

On January 3rd, 2010, Seth ‘cast into the deep’ on a 2,400-mile bicycle ride across the United States from Florida to Colorado. Why? Because at the University of Colorado, Seth encountered stories from people of authenticity who were young and all about sacrificing their lives for the Catholic faith. It was a beautiful encounter–so much so that he knew the world needed to hear their stories. And so was born www.OneBillionStories.com.

(Check out this film at www.OneBillionStories.com-Shaina’s Story)

Seth answered the following questions about filmmaking, evangelization to young adults and participating in the 2013 STS contest.

How and why did you come to begin making films?

I first began creating videos through family trips to National Parks in my childhood, which eventually led to filming my World Youth Day experiences in various locales around the world. But even prior to creating family videos, I was always taking pictures with my Grandfather’s old Pentax 35 mm camera. It was those early workings with old film that laid the groundwork for digital video production.

Tell us about the mission of OneBillionStories.com.

Our team at OneBillionStories.com, which I lead in Denver, has members around the world, publishing to date approximately 1,200 online videos centered up personal testimonies from Catholics around the world. However, the video for this contest is the vision for all of our videos moving forward with respect to it’s quality, rather than the standard sit down interview. People can view all of our videos at OneBillionStories.com.

What words of encouragement can you share about filmmaking?

If you want to do online video, do it with excellence, which means pursue beauty at every level of production. Truth, beauty, and goodness will go along ways when one shares online Catholic videos. And sometimes teaching yourself is the best way to learn how to make beautiful video.

Why are faith-based films important for the young adult audience?

Youth need to know that they are not alone in pursuing holiness. Online video reveals real people out in the world who are also pursuing holiness. Online video reassures us all that we are not alone in the daily challenges of living Catholicism authentically.

What was it like making your 2013 contest film for Goodness Reigns?

This video came about through the vision of Fr. John Nepil’s outreach to college students at the University of Colorado. Drawing on inspiration from Blessed John Paul II and Blessed Giorgio Frassati, Fr. John knew that taking college students to the mountains naturally allows them to disconnect from the world, slow down, and listen to God’s plan for their life. After hiking to the top of Quandary Peak, and celebrating Mass at 14,000 feet above sea level, it was clear that Fr. John’s story needed to be shared with more people.

Our team carried tripods, rigs, a crane, and audio equipment up a 14,000 foot mountain to capture this story. It was a beautiful clear sky day. We encountered a little ice and snow on top. About 15 college students came along for the mountain journey, and encounter with Catholicism.

What is the best advice you can give to someone starting out in filmmaking?

Have an end goal with your film, and greater mission as a whole. Without an end goal, and dream big when creating the goal, you will have nothing to shoot for long term; which ultimately is saving souls!

What are your future hopes and dreams?

Our team at OneBillionStories.com has many dreams for the future of online evangelization. One in particular is creating a team of young video missionaries in Denver who are ready and willing to commit to evangelizing the ‘digital continent’ through beautiful online video, and to do it full time and paid!

Anything to add?

For anyone interested in our mission, be sure to e-mail me anytime: seth@onebillionstories.com, or better yet, skype: sjdemoor

Seth DeMoor–CatholicTV

During World Youth Day 2011 our group of 20 had become lost on the side streets of Madrid as we walked to the site of the overnight vigil at Cuatro Vientos Airfield. We paused along an obscure section of boulevard to hydrate and appraise our situation.

It was a sunny afternoon in the quiet neighborhood that was sprinkled with a few shops. A handful of people stood behind metal railings  along the street. There were not enough people to call it a crowd, by any means, or to indicate a reason for the barriers.  Within moments, however, we began to hear rumors that the Holy Father would be passing by this point after meeting with seminarians nearby.

“Do we wait to see if this is true? What if they are wrong and we waste valuable time?”

Earlier in the week we waited hours along a stretch of road hoping to glimpse the Holy Father on his arrival to Madrid for WYD. A cool breeze buoyed the crowd of young and old from Germany, France, Spain, South Korea–and many other countries. Finally, live-streaming feed of the pontiff was broadcast on jumbo TV screens. We chanted “Ben-e-dict-o!” and emotionally held our breath to see if his motorcade would turn and journey toward us. It did not.

Now a few days later, some stood and others sat, wondering if we could commit again to a possible encounter.

Fortunately not more than 15 minutes later, slumped and resting bodies quickly stood and became alert as a motorcade advanced. Police motorcycles, black sedans and vans zoomed past.

He disappeared as fast as he came, with barely recognition of his presence. (Some of us, with eyes glued to our cameras, were unsure exactly which car was his!)

Still, while the episode lasted only seconds, the encounter buoyed our spirits and assurance in divine providence. We weren’t lost. On the contrary, we had been in the right place all along. We felt found.

May those of us today and in future generations find joy and continued assurance in the Seat of Peter because of the witness of Pope Benedict XVI, who, through his writings, public addresses and humble witness “has guided by the faith which works through love” (from Benedict XVI’s Encyclical entitled “God Is Love” #33).

“Although we are aware of the many problematic situations … we wish to renew our faith in the young and reaffirm that the Church looks to their condition and their cultures as an essential and inescapable” focal point for its ministry, the Pope told the Pontifical Council for Culture on Feb. 7.

The emphasis on young people was brought home by the way the council kicked-off its Feb. 6-9 full assembly on “Emerging Youth Cultures” in Rome. Gathered at the main hall of LUMSA university, cardinals, bishops and lay people attended a concert by the Italian rock band “The Sun.”

The president of the council, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, told CNA before the concert that a university was chosen as a venue because they are centers of youth culture.

The council decided to begin with a rock concert because music plays an important role in youth culture.

“If we simply walk along the streets of a city,” the cardinal observed, “we see the youth and we see that almost all of them are wearing headphones. They listen to music, and this forms a part of their language.”

Pope Benedict received participants in the assembly on Thursday afternoon in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.

He told the council members that he hopes their discussions will contribute to “the Church’s work in the lives of young people, which is a complex and articulated reality” that can no longer be understood using old paradigms.

The Pope then took stock of the current situation youth around the world are living in.

In particular, he is worried about the “widespread climate of instability” that is affecting the cultural, political, and economic areas. Many young people are having difficulty finding work, he noted, and this has psychological and relational repercussions.

“The uncertainty and fragility that characterize so many young people often pushes them to the margins, making them almost invisible and absent from society’s cultural and historical processes,” Benedict XVI remarked.

And this marginalization can impact the affective and emotional spheres, he said, giving birth to “apparently contradictory phenomena like the spectacularization of private life and a narcissistic selfishness.

“Even the religious dimension, the experience of faith and membership in the Church are often lived from an individualistic and emotional perspective,” he reflected.

But Pope Benedict also stressed the Church’s confidence in young people.

“She hopes in them and in their energy. She needs their vitality in order to continue living the mission entrusted to her by Christ with renewed enthusiasm,” he stated.

The Pope said that he sees some positive aspects in youth culture today, including an increase in volunteering, profound and sincere faith experiences, and efforts to “build societies capable of respecting the freedom and dignity of others, beginning with the smallest and weakest.”

He finished his message to the council by saying that he very much hopes “that the Year of Faith will be, also for the younger generations, a precious opportunity to rediscover and strengthen the friendship with Christ from which springs the joy and enthusiasm to profoundly change cultures and societies.”