Philippine bishops join forces with the TV series 'The Chosen' to spread the Gospel
During its meeting in Ozamis, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines met with the staff of the globally successful television series centred on the life of Jesus. The chapter on the Passion is due in early 2027. The potential for its pastoral use in the Church of Asia was highlighted. For Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, synodality means staying with those living on the margins.
Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) held a three-day retreat in the Archdiocese of Ozamis beginning last Saturday to as spiritual preparation for its 132nd plenary assembly, on 8-10 July.
On the first day of the meeting, the bishops met with the makers of The Chosen (2017), the first multi-season series dedicated to the life of Jesus, which has become a global success.
Directed by US director Dallas Jenks, the series is dubbed into dozens of languages, and is now in its fifth season. Its presentation on Saturday was organised in cooperation with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CCBI).
The synergy between the series and the Catholic Church in Asia was highlighted, as well as its potential as pastoral tool to spread the Gospel through visual storytelling.
The series was launched in 2019 as an independent project, funded by one of the largest crowdfunding campaigns in the history of cinema.
The Chosen has been praised for its original storytelling, the psychological depth of its characters – most notably the people who met Jesus, transformed by his presence – and its language, accessible even to non-believers.
The cast met with Leo XIV during the general audience in St Peter's Square on 25 June.
Father Christopher Vimalraj, CCBI associate deputy general secretary, led Saturday’s meeting along with Ashish Nag, Asia director of the TV series; Randel Serrano, Catholic engagement director for The Chosen in the Philippines; and Ajin Joseph, Catholic engagement director for The Chosen in India and associate secretary of the CCBI Family Commission.
The panellists illustrated how the series is promoting deeper engagement with the life of Jesus through chosen encounter sessions, organised in parishes, dioceses, seminaries, religious communities, and educational institutions.
The Philippine bishops also took part in one of the meetings, experimenting with a format that combines viewing selected scenes from the series with prayer, reflection, and spiritual dialogue.
Furthermore, during the presentation, Ashish Nag unveiled plans for the theatrical release of The Chosen: Crucifixion in early 2027.
The feature film is expected to be distributed in more than 30 countries, including the Philippines, offering audiences the opportunity to relive the Passion of Christ on the big screen.
At the Mass concluding of the three-day preparatory spiritual retreat for the 132nd Plenary Assembly (8-10 July), Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, shared his deep thoughts about the meaning of synodality.
He did so during the celebration that marked the beginning of the visit of the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Archdiocese of Ozamis, the eighth stop on its national pilgrimage across the Philippines.
The bishop of Kalookan emphasised that a truly synodal Church is defined by a shared journey, but also by knowing how to pause for those living on the margins of society.
He cited the example of Jesus, who showed compassion by allowing the suffering of another person, the woman with a haemorrhage, to interrupt his journey; hence, the prelate urged his fellow bishops to do the same.
Jesus “was on his way to a dying child, yet he did not consider the woman an inconvenience. He stopped because compassion always has time,” David explained.
The cardinal noted that the Church must imitate God's initiative. For this reason, a synodal Church must seek out those who moved away rather than wait for them to return.
He also noted that many poor people in the Philippines feel excluded from the Catholic Church; but Jesus showed that dignity comes first, as he did by calling the woman “Daughter”, before healing her.
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07/02/2019 17:28
