Becoming Catholic: An Adult's Faith Journey

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 27, 1995 by Michael K. Holleran

Sometimes the mere subject of liturgical video might seem to guarantee its emotional resonance and that must be true above all of the paschal liturgy and its preparation. Nonetheless, the two admirable videos, "Becoming Catholic: An Adult's Faith Journey" and "Adult Baptism: Exploring its Meaning," each 30 minutes, stand on their own merits (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1615 Republic St., Cincinnati, OH 45210; all videos $39.95). Each consists of four densely packed selections.

The first part is a dramatization, which makes excellent and imaginative use of video techniques. The second is a series of personal testimonies (the same group in each); the third is a didactic session by Fr. Tom Richstatter of St. Meinrad's Seminary, which is unfailingly personable, insightful and succinct. The apt use of music throughout the videos is capped by a concluding music meditation, composed by Bobby Fisher. I recommend these videos for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults programs and for all those interested in deepening their understanding of baptism.

On the negative side, some may find gratuitous the interjection of an antiabortion plug in the section on baptismal imagery. Other than that, the only general complaint I have is that the execution, particularly of the first sections, tends to be rather stagy, too sweet and neat, even verging on the corny. This is especially true of the third video in this series, "Eucharist: Celebrating Christ Present," in which the opening skit is so contrived and the acting so extraordinarily bad that it almost ruins the rest of the film.