A la 'Matrix,' vocations recruitment poster shows priest as hero

[emad]

This vocations poster was the brainchild of Father Jonathan Meyer, associate director of youth and young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.




By Chris Scaperlanda

7/22/2005

ASHINGTON (CNS) -- "Just as Keanu Reeves fought against the powers of evil, a priest comes to help people fight against sin. There is a battle out there," explained Father Jonathan Meyer, associate director of youth and young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

He made the comments in an interview with Catholic News Service about a new vocations recruitment poster being distributed by his archdiocese.

The poster, which is modeled after an advertisement for the movie "The Matrix," is the brainchild of Father Meyer. It features a priest in full cassock -- and the requisite Roman collar -- holding a cross in one hand and a rosary in the other. And he is wearing sunglasses.

That simple juxtaposition provides the mood Father Meyer said he was aiming for when creating the poster -- he wanted to say something about today's seminarian.

"Today's seminarian," he said, "is engaged with the world but is also committed to orthodoxy, like (Pope) John Paul II."

http://www.catholic.org/cathcom/national_story.php?id=15786

[emad]

1. Not to be confused with Matrix Chambers, Cherry Bush QC's

hangout.

[mirandaod]

2. Style over substance.

The substance is, the Catholic Church is moving radically to the right. A pair of sunglasses doesn't fool me, and I can't really believe that young Catholics will buy it. They may take the poster, but I don't think it's enough to get them into the priesthood. Unless they're already on the radical right. But still, it's too much personal sacrifice for today's young neocons.

[MountainLaurel]

3. How soon until Buddy Jesus?

Dogma was on this weekend. :evilgrin:

[prole_for_peace]

4. wow, he's hot.

i guess that was inappropriate. but i would think about attending services if he was the one preaching at me.

[CatholicEdHead]

5. "but is also committed to orthodoxy"

I don't think so, but that makes for a much more maleable group in the pews to have them all following every rule from above and enforcing it. That is against Vatican II, the "shut up and pay up" style of Catholism that is now waxing.

Besides that term "Orthodox" does upset some people in the RCC, as it overlaps with the Eastern Orthodox church, and there are many hatchets that have not been buried yet after almost a couple thousand years. Yet it is a "cool word" for about half of REMAINING Catholics and they continue to grow in numbers. :(

[sakabatou]

6. Looks more like Agent Smith...