Catholic Exchange has teamed up with Ascension Press to launch Catholic Passion Outreach and its flagship book, A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions about The Passion of The Christ. The website, which was unveiled yesterday, has quickly become the definitive Catholic resource for the Catholic outreach effort surrounding this epic movie.
A Unique Opportunity to Share the Gospel
“As a major cultural event, this movie offers Catholics a unique opportunity to share the power of the gospel with family and friends,” explained Tom Allen, president of CatholicExchange.com, a leading Catholic Internet portal and one of the two founding organizations for the Catholic Passion Outreach project. “Unlike any other, this movie will inspire hearts and change lives. And it will evoke many questions about the artistic and theological aspects of the movie.”
Allen and his Catholic Exchange staff teamed up with Ascension Press, a Catholic publishing company noted for its marketing and packaging acumen. The two apostolates developed a plan involving the creation of A Guide to the Passion, a 70-page book that answers 100 questions about the movie. Matthew Pinto, president of Ascension Press, calls it “the definitive Catholic resource book on the subject,” adding that this low-cost book is designed to be used as a free giveaway to moviegoers. The book also has a chapter on “The Case for Christ” and the story of the founding and growth of the Catholic Church. Devotional prayers, such as the Stations of the Cross and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, are included as appendices.
Appealing to All, Yet Rich in Faith
“We wanted to create a piece that offered a scene-by-scene analysis of the movie, both from an artistic and theological perspective. The book needed to be inviting, appealing to the casual moviegoer who may not be active in any faith, yet also rich in faith content,” explained Pinto. “People are going to have questions as they watch the movie. This book will give them the answers.”
Catholic Passion Outreach offers a turn-key program for dioceses and parishes, including free downloadable small group manuals, ready-made homilies, pulpit announcements and posters, and a flyer called “12 Ways to Share A Guide to the Passion.”
Appreciating this Remarkable Gift
“Mel Gibson has given humanity an extraordinary gift in The Passion of The Christ,” said Allen. “Those who have seen the movie attest to its artistic beauty and theological soundness. It really needs to be seen by everyone so that all may come to a greater appreciation of what Christ’s love for us is all about.”
For more information on Catholic Passion Outreach, visit www.Evangelization.com or call 800-376-0520.
