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I grew up in an Italian-American Roman Catholic family. Like most good Catholic boys, I at one point in my youth pondered whether I should enter the priesthood. And like most good Catholic families, it would have been an honor for my family if I did. I chose a different path, but every day, good Catholic boys become good Catholic men and do indeed enter the priesthood to dedicate their lives to service and faith. And good Jewish boys and girls become Rabbis. And good Muslim boys and girls become Imams. And Evangelicals become ministers. While most of us have jobs, these men and women have callings. What makes us go one way or the other?
In Danny Alpert’s engaging and insightful documentary, The Calling, several young Americans — Christian, Jewish and Muslim — prepare to become the nation’s next generation of religious leaders. The documentary, which screens as part of the free ITVS Community Cinema series at the downtown Nashville Public Library on Saturday, December 18, follows their transformation from idealistic students into ordained religious professionals, exploring the forces that are drawing a new generation of young people to serve their communities and their faith. The screening at 3:00 p.m. will be prefaced at 2:00 by an interfaith food reception where guests are encouraged to share in the various food traditions of different faiths. The screening and reception are free and open to the public, but guests are asked to RSVP to ITVS Coordinator Allison Inman at allison_inman@itvs.org so we get a better idea of how much food to bring.
ITVS Community Cinema Nashville is Presented by Nashville Public Television, Nashville Public Library, Hands On Nashville and Nashville Film Festival. The Calling is presented with special event partners Community Food Advocates, Interfaith Alliance of Middle Tennessee and Scarritt-Bennett’s Wisdom House.
More info about the screening can be found here. The Calling airs on NPT and PBS Stations nationwide December 20-21.
Meanwhile, what’s YOUR calling?