Contacts & Publisher

Subscription Form

Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Pallium special filmed with help from the GVTV crew

by Marylynn G. Hewitt, SFO of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 21, 2009

Giancarlo Guiliani | Catholic Press Photo The GVTV crew, Garrett Vigneron, 11, and his brother, Griffin, 10, work on their special show where their Uncle Al, Archbishop Allen Vigneron, received his pallium.

Detroit - "Why do you like cows?" It's probably not a question many reporters would think to ask Archbishop Allen Vigneron the day after he received his pallium. Most reporters likely wouldn't even know he likes cows!

But Garrett Vigneron, 11 and his brother, Griffin, 10, did. Thanks to their work as the crew of GVTV, whose call letters are taken from their initials, we all know a lot more about their Uncle Al. The GVTV duo are the sons of Gary and Kimberly Vigneron of St. Clair. They were joined by another crew, with a bit more professional experience, documenting the Vatican pilgrimage where Archbishop Vigneron received the vestment of archbishops June 29, the feast of SS. Peter and Paul.

Garrett's and Griffin's multi-media offerings were first showcased on their uncle's blog "A Shepherd's Mission" on the archdiocesan Web site during the trip. Now their camera work and interview skills are highlighted as part of "A Shepherd's Mission: High Church & Home Movies," a special on the pallium journey being shown on CTND.

Giancarlo Guiliani | Catholic Press Photo GVTV crew members, Garrett Vigneron, 11, (left) and his brother, Griffin, 10, interview their Uncle Al, Archbishop Allen Vigneron, in the Vatican Gardens during the pilgrimage to Rome. Their work will be showcased on "A Shepherd's Mission: High Church and Home Movies."

The program chronicles the pallium ceremony during Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, visits to historic sites, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with pilgrims and intimate conversations with the archbishop. At one point, with an emotional halt in his voice, Archbishop Vigneron says, "I was 21 when I came to Rome and it's really wonderful to be back here. ... It's really a great blessing to be doing this in the company of other people."

That same sense of gratitude was evident when he spoke at a reception after receiving the pallium. The Bible text that kept running through his mind, he said, was "I am the vine you are the branches. I got this profound sense of the living, organic reality of the Church. ... I really thank God for that. I get to belong to the same family as Peter and Paul and do some of their same work."

"A Shepherd's Mission" takes the viewer along on an afternoon of touring where we find out that Archbishop Vigneron's favorite basilica - other than St. Peter's, which he says is "off the charts" - is St. Mary Major.

There, as in other spots, the pilgrims who accompanied the archbishop take time to stop and pray. "To pray at all these places is a very important way to be reminded that we're not just tourists. We're not just here to look at these monuments but to pray in them is to use them for what they were made for," Archbishop Vigneron says.

While viewers see the beautiful shots from the professionals, they are also treated to a kid's-eye view caught on the cameras of Garrett and Griffin. From the shots of Mass at St. Peter Outside the Walls to their own view of the pallium ceremony at Mass, GVTV provides a different perspective sprinkled throughout the half-hour special conceived and produced by Barb Koster with Ned McGrath.

It's through their work we also find out:

• What does the archbishop have on his pizza? "Mushrooms."
• What did it feel like to receive the pallium? "A big honor and a little bit intimidating ... when you do your job you have to act in unity with the pope ... and it reminded me what I have to do."
• When will the archbishop wear his pallium? Whenever he says Mass in public in the state of Michigan.

Through their interviews we also find out about his only sports injury, whether he was ever late for Mass, whether it's hard to be archbishop and what it was like to be asked to become the archbishop of Detroit. Oh, we also find out why he likes cows. But we won't spoil it. We'll let him answer that for himself.

• Pallium Information