ABC-TV to Air Documentary on Modern-Day Monks
WASHINGTON (November 25, 2002) -- ABC-TV will distribute "Trappist," a one-hour documentary that examines the 1,700-year history of monastic life in the Western world, to its affiliate stations Sunday, December 1 (check local listings.) The program explores the daily life of 30 Catholic monks who live at the Mepkin Abbey monastery near Charleston, South Carolina.
Many people have an image of monks as men of the Middle Ages who work on ancient manuscripts and spend time in solitude and isolation. In recent years, since their traditional music topped the pop charts, however, monks have evoked a new fascination in both religious and secular worlds about their "mysterious" lives and in why a man would choose such a vocation today.
The in-depth documentary gives viewers unprecedented access to the monks, knowledge of their reasons for entering monastic life, and insight into their attitude towards work, hospitality, and rituals.
"Paulist Media Works was privileged to have Paulist Father John Geaney, producer of the documentary, invited into the monks" life so that we could give others a glimpse of their bit of heaven on earth," says Sue Donovan, president of Paulist Media Works. "Trappist" is an opportunity to spend an hour with some very human and very holy men."
"Trappist" was produced by Paulist Media Works, a communications arm of the Paulist Fathers based in Washington, and WTVI-TV, the community-owned PBS affiliate station in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The presentation of "Trappist" was made possible in cooperation with the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Paulist Media Works, and is part of the "Vision & Values" series created by the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, of which the USCCB is a member. Video streaming clips, media materials, and a list of ABC-TV affiliate broadcast dates will be posted on the CCC web site, http://www.usccb.org/ccc/trappist.htm.