WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER HERE

NEWS PROVIDED BY
AWE PR
April 23, 2024
 
IRVINE, Calif., April 23, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- Spirit Filled Hearts announced today their partnership with Fathom Events for an exclusive nationwide theatrical premiere of JESUS THIRSTS: THE MIRACLE OF THE EUCHARIST, a feature documentary by Executive Producer Deacon Steve Greco and producers James Wahlberg and Tim Moriarty. The powerful film is co-sponsored by the Diocese of Orange and puts Jesus on the big screen during the national Eucharistic Revival movement within the U.S. Catholic Church. Tickets are on sale now for Jesus Thirsts, which will be released in theaters nationwide on June 4, 5, and 6 (in Spanish) at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. With two showtimes making the film more accessible for families, schools, and religious education, the movie includes a special bonus feature, Our Lady of Guadalupe: Woman of the Eucharist, produced by the Knights of Columbus. Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange presents the main documentary feature with an on-screen introduction. Patrick Kelly, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, introduces the bonus feature presentation.
 
Tim Moriarty of Castletown Media, coming off their 2022 box office hit, Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, brings his writing and directorial talents to Jesus Thirsts. This visually stunning documentary offers the insights and testimonies of some of the most prominent Catholic leaders and thinkers of our era. With scenes captured across the United States and in countries including Poland, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uganda, Canada, and Slovenia, Jesus Thirsts is a poignant exploration of the Eucharist, revered as the source and summit of Christian life. The film is a celebration of the Eucharist as God's paramount gift to humanity, uniquely able to satisfy the deepest yearnings of the human heart.

Documentary subjects include authoritative voices within the Catholic Church:

• Dr. Scott Hahn, Founder and President, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
   
• Curtis Martin, Founder, FOCUS Catholic
   
• Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., President, Magis Center
   
• Sr. Briege McKenna, OSC, Sisters of St. Clare
   
• Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Chairman, National Eucharistic Revival
   
• Bishop David Toups, Diocese of Beaumont
   
• Eduardo Verástegui, Actor, Producer and Pro-life Activist
   
• Noel Díaz, Founder, El Sembrador Ministries
   
• Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, Provincial superior, Marian Fathers
   
• Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, Vicar Provincial, Marian Fathers 
   
• Chris Stefanick, Evangelist and Author
   
• Oscar Delgado, Parish Benefactor, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Chicago, IL
   
• Dr. Timothy Gray, President, Augustine Institute
   
• Sisters of Life
   
• Fr. Charbel Grbavac, O Praem., Norbertine Fathers
   
• Dan DeMatte, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Damascus Catholic
   
• Barbara Heil, Founder, From His Heart Ministries

See the complete cast list here.

"This movie will be a point of grace for every Catholic believer - those who are curious - and those who may have strayed from the Sacraments," said Deacon Steve Greco, executive producer. "The Catholic Church is in crisis with a reported only 1 in 4 Catholics attending weekly Mass. If the Eucharist is truly Jesus, then we must create an opportunity for education, invitation, and inspiration for the lost to turn back to God truly present in every tabernacle around the world."

The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is the most profound way God shares himself with humanity. However, a 2019 Pew Research Study exposed that only one-third of practicing U.S. Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Director Tim Moriarty addresses this disconnect with conviction: "It's not just a symbol; it is Jesus Himself," he asserts. "This film is crafted to ignite that realization in the hearts of those who see it." Moriarty added, "As our team at Castletown Media worked on the film, we knew we needed to show the universality of our faith and how the Eucharist unites us as one body in Christ. We hope that it will spur a movement that leads people back to Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and ultimately, a belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist."

"The Eucharist changed my life, and we want this movie to change lives," said James Wahlberg, producer.  "So many people today are seeking false forms of power, and the greatest source of power and love exists under the guise of bread in the holy Eucharist. As a filmmaker, I have seen the power of storytelling that can change lives, and here we have the greatest love story of all time. Maybe some of your loved ones are not ready to come back to Mass but will be open to seeing our film. I encourage faithful Catholics to be bold in witnessing and invite those who are near, especially those who are far off, to come to the movies on June 4, 5, and 6. I can’t imagine anything better than the movie theaters filled and then pastors and priests opening their churches for Eucharistic adoration. This is an encounter with Jesus, who is seeking every human heart and is waiting for us on every altar around the world."

Also appearing in the film and taking on the role of executive producer is Eduardo Verástegui, an internationally renowned actor, filmmaker and pro-life activist. He is noted for his role in the 2023 record-breaking box office success Sound of Freedom, for which he also served as executive producer. Verástegui is also known for the acclaimed films Bella (2006), winner of the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival;  Little Boy (2015), a poignant exploration of faith, hope and love seen through the eyes of a young boy during World War II; and most recently Cabrini (2024) on the life of Saint Frances Cabrini.

"In the Eucharist, Jesus gives Himself to me completely," said Eduardo Verástegui. "We all have an insatiable desire for the infinite, and as we walk through life, we seek to undo this hunger in many ways. The Eucharist, however, is the way that God chose to stay with us. He is the only one that can satisfy our hunger. With this movie, we have a powerful instrument in our hands to lead hungry, lost and broken men and women to the truth of Jesus Christ's presence in the Eucharist. I believe we can change the world with a movie that tells people who God really is. I pray many people will embrace this movie and share it with others."

There are several resources available on the movie website that have been created in English and Spanish for parishes, dioceses, and ministries. Visit JesusThirstsFilm.com to download postcards, fliers, social media graphics, and videos to engage your community of faith. 

"We encourage groups to see this film together and to join us to create a groundswell at the grassroots level," said Deacon Steve Greco. "There are a lot of inspiring films about faith, but when has there ever been a movie about Jesus Christ in the Eucharist?  This is the most important undertaking of my lifetime. This movie is for you - for us - because this is our story. This movie belongs to the Body of Christ, and it's our time to bring our brothers and sisters home to the True Presence of Jesus Christ. Together, we have a massive opportunity to bring a cinematic catechesis to the world! Do not miss it! I am so grateful to our producing team, who have created a work of art to inspire generations yet to come with the unchanging truth of God’s presence with us in the miracle of the Eucharist. We are incredibly blessed to have two showtimes in theaters, which makes our movie accessible for schools and families to see the film earlier in the day at 4:00 p.m. Buy your tickets now, share on social media, and herald the good news of this movie coming to theaters nationwide!"

For more information, please visit JesusThirstsFilm.com. Tickets and a list of participating theater locations will be available here. Join the conversation on social media at #JesusThirstsFilm on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
 
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit FathomEvents.com.

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Fathom Events
Colette Carey, Fathom Events, ccarey@fathomevents.com 

SOURCE AWE PR