Update

It has been a long time coming for this update.  There has been many twists and turns and on-slaughts from (organ music please) SATAN, but by the grace of God, the vision for the Catholic Church to have more of a dedicated "ministry of presence" in the entertainment culture is still moving forward.  In March of 2012, my bishop in Chicago (Cardinal Francis George) kindly granted my request to incarnate in Los Angeles as an LA priest and Archbishop Gomez accepted.

In July 2012, I arrived in Los Angeles to begin the process as Associate Pastor at St. Dorothy Parish in Glendora, CA.  I have been blessed by the good and faith-filled people of St. Dorothy (God placed me here for a reason) and encouraged by their support  for any future plans to continue building the "ministry of presence."  I continue to pray for endurance and wisdom as the work continues!  Thank you all for your prayers!!

Blessed John Paul II - pray for us!!!

Fr. Don Woznicki

Hollywood Project Update

Hello All,

Been awhile.  Just a brief note to let you all know that although there has not been much apparent activity with the Hollywood Project over the past 2 years, it doesn't mean there hasn't been significant activity.

A comprehensive outreach ministry within the entertainment culture is still on the table --- it just takes time (especially for something like this) to get it legitimately through the key "studio heads" (within the Church) before it can be set in place.

Your continued prayers as I continue to advocate for more of a pastoral presence of the Catholic Church within the entertainment culture.  Count on my persistence.

Good artist in entertainment do important and meaningful work in our culture - Not just to make us feel good, rather to aspire us to be good.  The hollywood project appreciates that and is looking for more ways to support you!

Merry Christmas and all the peace and joy that comes through the birth of the Christ child.

Fr. Don

Hollywood Project Update

Hello to all who have an interest in the entertainment culture,

It appears God really wants the Hollywood Project to happen - Plans are in the works for a July 1, 2011 start date to begin laying the foundation. Still need your prayers so that the devil will not get his tail into things.

As we begin to lay down some concrete plans to launch operations, we are always open to whatever comments/advice you might have on ways the Catholic Church can be more present to support those in the entertainment industry.

May the "Splendor of Christ" radiate in your hearts today and always,

Fr. Don Woznicki, Project Leader

Hollywood Project

Enter The Hollywood Project Network

All are welcome to be part of the Hollywood Project.

1 - If you are an entertainment professional interested in bringing truth, beauty, and goodness to the human race through entertainment - YOU ARE WELCOME to be part of this movement.

2 - If you are anybody who loves entertainment but would like to see more truth, beauty, and goodness in entertainment - YOU ARE WELCOME too to be part of this movement.

Go to facebook page: The Hollywood Project and become part of the network (receive updates of project and announcements of events, etc.).

Hollywood Project "Plan" Feedback

The Hollywood Project is a 5 Phase (5-8yr. implementation) plan to establish the Universal Church's dedicated and committed ministerial presence in Los Angeles to support entertainment professionals in their special vocation.

The first Phase is developing a plan that will be presented to the Bishops of LA, the United States Bishops, and ultimately to the Vatican. We need your input as to what your practical and spiritual needs are as entertainment professionals so this plan may best reflect the strategies to support those needs.

The plan is proposing to provide spiritual, intellectual, practical, and "faith in action" support to entertainment professionals.  Help us identify any specific needs from your personal experience or observations.

Four Ways to Provide Feedback [Deadline for Feedback - November 15, 2008]:

1 - Here at this blog (comments).

2 - E-mail the leader of project (Fr. Don Woznicki) [frdon@new-ethos.org].

3 - On The Hollywood-Project facebook

4 - Feel free to call Fr. Don (1-310-892-5778)

5 - Tell your story: Write a personal Letter to the bishops.

Fr. Don will compile these letters and hand them to the bishops as an appendix to the plan to be presented to the United States in November 2009.  HAVE YOUR VOICE BE HISTORICALLY HEARD IN WASHINGTON D.C. in making a plea to the Universal Church for supporting efforts of the church to be present to entertainment professionals as they struggle to create.

• Address letter to "Your Excellencies and Eminences"
• Tell your story: Indicate who you are, what you do, and why you answered the call to use your special gifts in the entertainment industry.
• No longer than 2 pages.
• E-mail to frdon@new-ethos.org], or send to Fr. Don Woznicki, 7201 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA., 90046.
  

Hollywood Project The "Kick-Off" Event

Thanks to all of you who had taken the time to attend the Hollywood Project Kick-off event.

It was a blessed and beautiful evening marking the "Kick-off' of the initial phase (Phase I - Pastoral Plan Development) of the "Hollywood Project" (HP).

Hollywood Project? = A 5 Phase (5-8 year Implementation strategy) to establish a committed ministerial presence of the Universal Church in Los Angeles to support the practical and spiritual needs of entertainment professionals and share a common mission of "Hope" with Hollywood).

The night was blessed with Holy Mass (Fr. Darrin Merlino) against a stunning backdrop on the 16th floor of Doug Brown's condo in W. Hollywood.  We were warmed up to hear Fr. Don Woznicki's presentation of the HP by musical recording artist, Caitlin Crosby and Dr. Peter Kreeft ("Can Hollywood Save the World?").  The goal for the night was basically to create "buzz" among the largely individual and group ministry leaders in Hollywood, and to alert them that they will be contacted in the near future for their valuable input during the Pastoral Plan's development.

Individually we have made some progress in bringing truth, beauty, and goodness to our entertainment culture.  Together we can do volumes more, but we need the Universal Church's support.  The main obstacle to this support?  The Universal Church does not see Hollywood as an official ministerial priority of evangelization to lend some serious support, or She does not have anybody coming to her, to lay it out,  saying, "This is exactly what we need to do."  Fellow "Hollywood pilgrims, the Universal Church needs to hear not from a few, but from a community of Catholics working and ministering in Hollywood.  It will start with the LA Bishops, work through the US bishops committee on Social Communications, and with these blessings, onto the USCCB Larger body (Washington D.C.) and the Vatican.

Our own obstacles?  Many of us have certain visions and ideas of how to effect Hollywood, but they are either unorganized and/or random, with no specific written plans that show a unified "community of Catholics in Hollywood" strategy.  Couple this with all our time constraints to devote any real effort to the mission in "Hollywood" and usually what results is similar to either a chicken flapping its wings but never gets off the ground, or an eagle ready to soar but constantly has its wings clipped because of missing resources.  EVEN IF THE CHURCH HAS SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES FOR US, WOULD IT BE PRUDENT TO OFFER IT TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE THESE FRAGMENTED AND UNORGANIZED EFFORTS?

This is why the Hollywood Project is needed.  I am confident the Bishops will recognize and support "Hollywood as a mission field" with a completed pastoral plan that shows a strategy to unify Catholic efforts in Hollywood (while they retain their autonomous missions) under a common mission, representative of the Universal Church, and sustain it.

LET'S DO IT TOGETHER AND MAKE HISTORY!

Check out the profile section of this blog for more details of HP.

I would very much like to hear your feedback from this event so that any recommendations, concerns, or affirmations can be accounted for as we begin the defining initial phase (Plan Development) of this project.

Pope John Paul II - Pray for Us!

Blessings,

Fr. Don Woznicki, Lead

Hollywood Project

frdon@new-ethos.org