Make It Happen
- Select a movie. (TIP: Gather a group of young adults and have them suggest movies that they feel will generate good discussion about relationships, ethics, morals, spirituality or other life issues. Invite these young adults be your discussion leaders.)
- A week before your movie night, gather to view the movie and put together a discussion guide. You can often find a discussion guide by doing an Internet search for the film + discussion guide. You might need to add some Catholic questions or Church teaching references.
- Have volunteers arrive about 30 minutes in advance to arrange the room and greet participants as they arrive. Beverages and snack foods (think: popcorn!) are appropriate as gestures of hospitality.
- After viewing the movie, divide into smaller groups, if you have more than 12 participants. Each group should have a discussion leader with the questions to facilitate the discussion.
- Here’s a sample of how the night might go:
- 6:30 p.m.: Gather
- 6:45 p.m.: Opening prayer, introductions, begin the film
- Evening conclusion will be determined by the length of the film and the discussion that follows. (You might want to be clear about this in your advertising.)
Idea: Incorporate a movie discussion night with other programs: watch a movie with the same topic as the book you’re using in book group, complete a service project related to the theme of a movie or find a speaker who can give more insight into the topic.
Recommends
- The Way (pilgrimage, spiritual journey)
- Of Gods and Men (vocation, community)
- My Sister’s Keeper (in-vitro fertilization, genetic design, conception)
- The Soloist (self-reflection, self-doubt, homelessness, mental illness)
- Fireproof (personal relationships, Christ’s love for us)
- The Visitor (immigration)
- The Ultimate Gift (call to holiness, purpose in life)
- The Passion of the Christ (discipleship, Paschal Mystery, role of the cross)
- Saved! (friendship, pre-conceived ideas about Jesus)
- The Mission (historical mission, colonialism)
Helps
- Book: Dinner and Movie: Friendship, Faith and Fun for Small Groups, Group Publishing, 2005
- Book: Lights, Camera, Faith, Years A, B, and C by Rose Pacatte, Pauline Books and Media, 2001-2003
- Blog: Spiritualpopcorn.blogspot.com
- Website: HollywoodJesus.com
