Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Web site videos on sacraments features Msgr. Zenz
Web site videos on sacraments features Msgr. Zenz
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 19, 2008
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Larry A. Peplin | The Michigan Catholic
Msgr. John Zenz talks about the gift of the sacraments during filming of the videos now featured on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Web site. They were filmed at three churches in the Archdiocese of Detroit by its own camera crew. |
Birmingham — If the priest explaining the sacraments in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops new online videos looks familiar, it's because he's the Archdiocese of Detroit's very own Msgr. John Zenz.
Msgr. Zenz hosts a series of videos, one for each sacrament and an introductory video, on the USCCB's Web site. He explained that the theme for the videos was how the sacraments are threshold experiences, moving through the sacrament to the sacred, and ways that we encounter the Lord.
After a few quick reviews of the catechism, he pulled mostly from his first-hand knowledge and experience with the sacraments. "The goal was to take the catechism and make it more user-friendly," he said.
Msgr. Zenz has served as pastor of Holy Name Parish, Birmingham, since June. He's also episcopal vicar of the archdiocese's Northwest Region.
He explained that the bishops' conference was looking for someone to host a sacraments program with the intention to try streaming video on the conference Web site. In one day of taping, they spent most of their time at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, but also at St. Joseph Parish in Detroit and Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Msgr. Zenz said the goal is to reach and educate people through the video series, by keeping them short and to the point.
Ned McGrath, the archdiocesan director of communications, said the USCCB had been familiar with the programs produced by the Archdiocese of Detroit on CTND, as well as the numerous programs hosted by Msgr. Zenz over the years on scripture, parables, Lent and other topics.
He gave credit to Msgr. Zenz for adapting to a format much shorter than the videos he has hosted in the past, as well as to the local production crew.
"(The videos are) instructional, formational and also creative and contemporary at the same time," he said.
The videos are varied, so Msgr. Zenz might give a bit of history about a sacrament one, or relate another to Jesus' own ministry. He explains how one of Jesus' major ministries was healing of the sick, for example, in the anointing of the sick video, and explains the history of the sacrament of confirmation. In the video discussing penance, he talks about how Jesus forgave sins in His own lifetime.
"The sacraments are outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace," he begins in the introductory video. "Signs, there are all kinds of signs around us, but sacraments are unique as signs because they are signs of the presence and love of God for us and of our desire to come in contact or encounter God. Sacraments are living signs. They are dynamic signs. They involve the action of the Church. Sacraments are of the Church and for the Church. They are truly the action of God."
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