In 2017, the crew of The Francis Impact visited the tiny island of Lampedusa, known as the "Gateway to Europe" because it is the first point in Europe that many migrants and refugees try to reach on the perilous journey by sea from Africa and the Middle East. Many who set out for Lampedusa never make it. On July 8, 2013, Pope Francis visited Lampedusa as a gesture of solidarity with the poor and the dispossessed, the lost and the suffering. Today, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of this visit, Pope Francis has offered a Mass for Migrants in St. Peter's Basilica. This moving reflection was written by cameraman Peter Turek and was originally posted on October 20, 2017, under the title "Pressing Pause". To learn more about The Francis Impact, visit the website or watch the trailer.
To see more stunning photographs from the crew's trip to Lampedusa, click here."I could stay here for a few months," I assured the guys on the first day. Putting one's life on pause in today's world is a luxury not many get to experience. Yet we were there to examine the dark side. To turn everyone's attention to the dark side and the light that emerged. We were working on a new documentary titled The Francis Impact, produced by Sebastian Gomes. I had the privilege to be behind the lens and try to paint a picture of the island, the tragedies, and more importantly, the response by the locals. I did not yet know that two hours later I would be on a patrol boat with the Carabinieri, making our way to the exact spot where the tragedy occurred four years before. On the boat next to us, I could see some of the survivors and family members of the victims. I was not quite prepared for the violent up and down motion. It was a windy, colourless day. Suddenly the Mediterranean showed a side I have never seen before. It was not the familiar aqua blue but a ghostly grey. We held on with both hands. When I took shots I was held by an officer on one side and Matteo on the other. Looking through the lens at other boats, it was difficult to interpret balance and motion. I thought back and tried to recreate the panic that must have taken place four years prior. They deserved better. I breathed in the salty air and tried not to panic. Suddenly the boats created a circle and turned on all the sirens. Small figures on the other boat threw a wreath of yellow flowers into the sea. I looked through my long lens to see the faces and bodies breaking down in tears and sadness. Broken people propped up by others, surviving. Embraced through the emotional and physical storm. I could never imagine what they felt at that moment. I was lucky that way.
The Holy Crown of Thorns was returned to Notre-Dame de Paris after the rededication in December, restoring a beloved Lenten devotion.
In this month of March, Pope Francis invites us to pray for families who find themselves in crisis: That broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.
How can the experience of parenting give us a sense of God's compassionate, patient, and merciful presence with us?
Priest, educator, and legendary hockey coach. Fr. David Bauer's impact on Canada's sports and culture history is unmistakable.
At the Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering, ON, retreatants of all ages can encounter a God of surprises.