By learning more about Mary, Chris Stepien hopes readers will glimpse ‘God’s far larger world’

OUR COVER STORY THIS WEEK features an interview with a long-time friend of ReadTheSpirit—Chicago-based author Chris Stepien. In an inspiring conversation with Editor David Crumm, Chris shares his heart-felt journey from his work as an award-winning, secular media professional toward his new life as an influential Catholic novelist.

Please enjoy this glimpse of Chris Stepien’s spiritual and professional transformation—and please consider sharing this cover story with friends via social media and email. We know that there are thousands of readers out there who will be enjoying Chris’s latest novel. So, please, help some of your friends discover his new book, this week.

Our focus on Mary’s wisdom is timely this week

Feast of the Assumption

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS COLUMNIST STEPHANIE FENTON has our story this week about the ancient Christian Feast of the Assumption of Mary—also known as the Dormition of the Theotokos in Eastern Orthdox churches.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

Inspiring News from Our Writers—

Suzy Farbman writes about her instant friendship with the resilient Sofia Edmonds

THERE WERE SO MANY ‘GodSigns’ in their first meeting that Suzy Farbman instantly sensed that her new friend was special. And, now, Sofia is letting Suzy tell her story of a global romance and later a life-threatening battle with stage IV cancer. This is Part 1 of Sofia’s triumphant story—and we will bring you Part 2 in our August 19 issue.

What up with Jonathan Grimm?

WE’RE HEARING FROM FOLKS who already want to meet this upcoming author, so in our Front Edge Publishing column this week, Marketing Director Susan Stitt gives us a pre-pre-release “heads up” about how to find this guy online. As it turns out, he’s a whole lot of places!

Click on this poster from the PBS documentary to begin reading Part 2 of Ed McNulty’s series of columns, which he has collected from his original journals of that landmark 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi. (NOTE: If you missed Part 1 of Ed’s series in our August 12 issue, here’s a link to jump back to that debut collection of columns.)

Faith & Film

Click on this cover shot from Ed McNulty’s August 2024 issue of Visual Parables Journal, packed with film reviews and discussion guides. This issue includes: Twisters, Sing Sing, Touch, My Penguin Friend and many more.

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with film reviews and discussion guides. This resource is used nationwide by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

WIDOW CLICQUOT—Ed writes, “Director Thomas Napper’s debut feature film could serve as a feminist tract celebrating the heritage of a strong woman in early 19^th century France.”
MY PENGUIN FRIEND—“I love interspecies films such as Fly Away, and Brazilian director David Schurmann’s film is a delightful addition to the genre.”
TWISTERS—“Director Lee Isaac Chung’s disaster film is about as thrilling as it can get, far more entertaining than a screen full of wisecracking Marvel superheroes.”
LONGLEGS—”Director Oz Perkins probes the “madness is in their heart” in an unforgettable way in this film that combines horror with FBI procedural.”
TOUCH—”Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur’s film is for those who love a star-crossed lover’s story.”
SING SING—This inspiring film is based on a true story of prisoners producing an annual theatrical production at Sing Sing prison.
A MUSSOLINI DOUBLE FEATURE—Ed says that viewers with an interest in Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s long and complex reign in Europe and Africa will want to watch two films (now streaming on YouTube and on Amazon): Mussolini’s Daughter and Lion of the Desert, each one running about three hours.
THE LONG GAME—Ed urges us to see this inspiring true story of a groundbreaking team of young Latino golfers.
A QUIET PLACE: DAY 1—Ed likes this prequel even though he initially was skeptical about the quality of a third film in this francise.
DADDIO—”Writer-director Christy Hall’s film, shot almost entirely within the confines of a NYC Yellow Cab, pulls off a seemingly impossible task—keeping us interested entirely by means of a conversation that moves from the casual to the intimate.”
FRESH—Ed also suggests we look back this week to a 1994 film set in Brooklyn that many of us may have overlooked.
HORIZON, Chapter 1—“I wish Kevin Costner could redo this as a cable series.”