Friday, January 23, 2015

St. Luke Productions Presents a play about the life of St. Vianney



St. Luke Productions Presents a play about the life of St. Vianney

 

Where: St. Matthew's Catholic Church (Hillsboro)
·                            Date: Friday, February 20, 2015
·                            Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
·                            Description: St. Vianney Play
·                           
There will be a free showing of the play, St. Vianney, by St. Luke Productions on Friday, February 20, at St. Matthew Catholic Church. Free-will monetary and food offerings will be gathered for local St. Vincent de Paul pantries. The production is being organized by the Tualatin Valley Vicariate, which includes St. Anthony, St. Edward, Visitation, St. Francis, St. Alexander, St. Elizabeth, and St. Matthew Catholic Churches.


Leonardo Defilippis's latest one-man stage production, VIANNEY, opens amidst the chaos of the French Revolution, a time which mirrors the secularization, materialism and anti-religious sentiment of our own day. Against this dramatic backdrop, a simple ignorant peasant priest enters the backwater town of Ars, a place where no one cares much about their faith, or sees the Church as particularly relevant. They don't expect much out of John Vianney. But then the impossible begins to happen through this unlikely shepherd – through his example, his love, and his sacrifice, the townspeople begin to change, begin to listen, and begin to pray.

This is a story of perseverance against all odds – the story of a humble pastor with a passion for souls. He'll do anything to save a sinner. "It is my prayer that when people meet John Vianney, they will, just like the people of Ars, be transformed by his life, story and message," says Leonardo Defilippis. "I know that young men looking for a radical way of serving God will be drawn to the priesthood through his example."

In a dramatic scene of the play, Vianney battles the devil, who attacks him physically almost every night, causing furniture to fly around the room and leaving him battered and bruised from the combat. Why does the devil attack so violently? Because souls are being stolen away from him by the Curé of Ars! Never discouraged, Vianney, played by Defilippis, laughs at his adversary, for when he has had a particularly bad night he knows he'll catch "a big fish," or sinner, the next day.

Here is the hero we need in our day – a priest who, like Christ, pours himself out with complete unselfishness who never gives up on a single soul. The VIANNEY live production will enthrall audiences with this struggle against all odds by a simple man who perseveres in spite of so much discouragement and adversity. The original musical score by composer Randall DeBruyn is gripping and beautiful, the costumes and set take the audience away into France of the 19th century.  The play incorporates state-of-the-art technology projected onto a screen, offering a full cast of characters. Leonardo Defilippis' portrayal will bring all to tears, laughter and a deep experience of the presence of God in our midst.

We invite you to bring VIANNEY to your community, for a rare opportunity not to be missed. Who knows what God will do right in your own parish, if you open the door to Saint John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests?

Leonardo Defilippis's latest one-man stage production, VIANNEY, opens amidst the chaos of the French Revolution, a time which mirrors the secularization, materialism and anti-religious sentiment of our own day. Against this dramatic backdrop, a simple ignorant peasant priest enters the backwater town of Ars, a place where no one cares much about their faith, or sees the Church as particularly relevant. They don't expect much out of John Vianney. But then the impossible begins to happen through this unlikely shepherd – through his example, his love, and his sacrifice, the townspeople begin to change, begin to listen, and begin to pray.