The Cross: At the Center of Our Identity

...God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 1Cor. 1:27

Who we are...

Catholic Productions is a Catholic media company owned and operated by Michael and Brian since 2006.

Where we met...

It would be nice to say we met leaving an adoration chapel, walking out of mass, or even at a food shelter or youth group meeting, right?

But, that wouldn't be true.  We met at a poker game. And, it would be lying if we said otherwise :-).

This was around 2003 and little did we know that a $10 game (which we both lost in) would lead to a joint lifelong pursuit to amplify the Biblical roots of the Catholic faith through a media company.  In hindsight, it is evident that if God can pull water from a rock, he can coordinate major life-long plans for two half-wits in a card game: you just have to have "eyes to see and ears to hear," someone once said.

The next time we spoke was the following Good Friday at what is known as "The Nine Church Walk" in New Orleans.

On Good Friday, numerous groups of people gather in New Orleans to carry large crosses and walk to 9 different churches throughout the city, meditating on the Way of the Cross.

We ended up carrying a large cross together for a portion of the walk, and we discussed what all people -- especially philosophy and theology students -- discuss on Good Friday: G.K. Chesterton and the formal logical fallacy made by a comic strip about Rene Descartes' Cogito Ergo Sum.  Clearly, this has all worked out in spite, and not because, of us.

In 2005, Michael completed his theology degree, and Brian returned from a brief stint of graduate school in Boston.

How it all began...

In 2005 we rented a house with 2 other friends (Roch and Timmy). How the realtor ever agreed to that still remains a mystery.  It was there that we started what is now known as Catholic Productions.

It started as a company offering two main services: screen printing and audio recording. Timmy, with a background in screen printing, was our entry way to the world of textile decorating, which we used for years to supplement our media production.

And, since Michael had a background in music and experience with studio recording in college, he offered to record one of his professors giving a Bible study on St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. Shortly thereafter this professor presented at a local Catholic bookstore and that recording was ultimately produced by our newfangled Catholic media company.

This obscure and undistinguished professor that Michael recorded went by the name of Brant Pitre, now a best-selling author and internationally acclaimed (at that time, however, every other phone call we took went something like, "No, it's not pronounced Pie-tur").

The conspicuous interest that Dr. Pitre garnered from the few Bible studies he led was clear.  The reaction by people was something like discovering a heavenly oasis in a spiritual sojourn through the Sahara. So, we continued recording, producing, and making Dr. Pitre's material available to the local community.

In sum, in 2005 this endeavor was composed of a few philosophy and theology students who had convinced themselves they could build something from the ground up, hoping it would lead to a future career/vocation that we could dedicate our lives to. Sounded like a perfect plan to us. After all, we were philosophy and theology students... what could go wrong?

How it all nearly ended...

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina plowed through and decimated our city with unprecedented flooding, destruction, and loss of life. The scene was that of a war zone for weeks in New Orleans, and we were displaced to Lafayette, LA (where Michael providentially rekindled a friendship with his now-wife, Lindsey).

When we returned to the destruction, we were at a fork in the road.  Timmy and Roch sensibly moved on to school out-of-state, and we were left with the decision that would shape the rest of our lives: Call it quits and "move on," or is God calling us to push through and use whatever minor gifts we have to help make his living Word become a "light on a stand...[which] gives light to all in the house" (Mt. 5:15)?

We decided to stick with it. We both moved in with Michael's parents and persisted through the most unstable time of our lives, which is what hardened us, thanks be to God, to withstand all of the future struggles we would encounter ahead. Shortly after moving in with Michael's parents, Catholic Productions proper was formed.

How it continued...

To make a long story short, after a year or so, we moved out of Michael's parents' house and began renting a small office. In 2007, Brian married his lovely wife, Caroline, and Michael and Lindsey did the same in 2008. There was no turning back.  We had to make this work as we assumed the responsibility to support our families.  Through much trial and error we learned that if we dedicate ourselves to the vision we've had from the beginning to provide valuable Bible studies to strengthen the faith of our brothers and sisters, God cannot be outdone in generosity.

Final thoughts...

To wrap up, this pursuit was not something we saw clearly or set out after.  In a sense, it would be much fairer to say it found us. We merely saw a piece of the puzzle and trusted in God's providence.  We hope to continue doing the same for years to come.

Thank you for taking some time to learn about our past. Nothing about it is altogether grand or special, and it may be similar in some ways to your life.  As such, we just end with two final thoughts we hope you might implement in your life:

(1) For those who are trying to pursue the will of God through a path less traveled: (a) Pray, pray, and... pray. (b) Discover what makes you "come alive" through the gifts God has given you through a period of time spent on self-awareness (with a spiritual director). (c) Lean into your fears and unceasingly pursue your goals that have as their end to magnify God. We're all playing in our Father's sandbox after all - so do something great for him - he's in control and he loves you. d) And, did we mention...never...cease...praying?

(2) If you enjoy the Bible studies we produce, please take what you've learned and share that knowledge to make the most compelling case for the Gospel. Like the apostles who received the Gospel and were commissioned to evangelize, take what you can glean from these studies and implement them, explain them, and share them with others to draw all men to Christ. We hope to serve that end, at whatever capacity in your life, so that you can become a witness to others.

God bless you, and we pray that we will all meet face to face, if not in this life, then in the next where He will indeed make all things new.