The video was written, directed and produced by The Cresta Group of Chicago. The 28-minute program includes interviews with people from across the United States who have found inspiration in the spirituality of St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei.

At the meeting, Joan Beugen, the head of the Cresta Group, explained her focus on personal stories. “I produced the DVD with the idea inspiring people to understand with their heart what they felt about their spirituality,” Beugen said. “The people interviewed were not giving you theology, but their feelings and thoughts about how they lived out Escrivá’s message.”

“The fact that I’m not a Catholic helped me accomplish this purpose,” she explained. “We were able to have the mind of an audience who asks questions, instead of giving them answers.”

“Passionately Loving the World  is an engaging  film that shows how Christian faith can enrich and enlighten the daily lives of ordinary men and women,” said Wesley Pattillo, director of communication for the National Council of Churches U.S.A. The council's member faith groups — a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches — include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations across the nation. 

Roy T. Lloyd, a spokeperson for the American Bible Society, agreed. “This is a very appealing message that transcends the Catholic Church,” he said.

The official premiere of the video takes place on April 19 at Lighthouse International in New York. More information about the video is available from the St. Josemaria Institute, www.stjosemaria.org. Clips from the video can be viewed at: https://www.stjosemaria.org/meet-the-people.shtml.

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith association of more than 600 religion communicators working in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations.