News & Events
Family Theater staff members join Catholic Athletes for Christ in retreat
November 25, 2009
Seven male staff members of Family Theater Productions joined about 30 Catholic Athletes for Christ members in a men’s retreat Nov. 17-19 at Serra Retreat in Malibu, Calif. The retreat was organized and led by Ray McKenna, CAC's founder and president, and Father Willy Raymond, CSC, national director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood.;)
Speakers also included Jeff Suppan, a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, a 15-year, pro-baseball veteran and a World Series champion as a St Louis Cardinal in 2006; Bobby Keppel, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins who was the winning pitcher of the Twins' 2009 playoff game with the Detroit Tigers for the American League Central Division title; and Kerry Fraser, longest active referee in National Hockey League history having refereed more than 1,800 NHL games over a more than 30-year career. Those sports figures gave their personal testimonies to the power of God, faith and prayer in their lives.
Also speaking were Norbertine Father Jim Baraniak, O. Praem., chaplain for the Green Bay Packers; Father Mike Gurnick, chaplain of the Cleveland Indians; and actor Jim Caviezel ("The Prisoner" and "The Passion of the Christ."
Participants included Mike Piazza, a retired Major League All-Star catcher; Mike Sweeney, a Major League All-Star and a designated hitter for the 2009 Seattle Mariners; college and high school baseball coaches; former collegiate athletes; as well as actors and production crew members.
The retreat, with the theme "The habit of winning with Christ," explored our relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It featured a screening of a documentary film, "Star of Bethlehem," presented by its producer Steve McEveety (producer of "The Passion of the Christ"), daily Mass, Rosary prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.