Everything is always changing, but August 2012 will go down as a month of particularly momentous milestones for the Greydanus family—some of which will have repercussions on my life and work, including my film review work, for many years to come.
Just a few days ago, our eldest, Sarah Elisabeth, left us and began life at college—the first of our children to depart the nest. (If you missed my blog post on Sarah’s review of Whisper of the Heart, check it out.)
The week before that, Suz and I welcomed our seventh child, Matthew Richard. Around the same time, I wrapped up the third summer season of “Reel Faith.” (If you missed our season finale, catch it at the show’s website (coming soon)—and see a pic of Matthew in the opening minutes!)
The week before that, on August 3, we celebrated our 21st anniversary. Three times seven years. 3 and 7… biblical numbers keep cropping up.
Here’s another biblical number: 12. That’s how many years I’ve been doing Decent Films and writing faith-informed film criticism. (I always thought I registered the domain in August, but it looks like it was earlier, probably in May. So, 12 years and 3 months?)
Perhaps the most momentous milestone, though, is the last.
Next week I will be going back to graduate school—back to seminary, in fact—to pursue diaconal studies in preparation for ordination to the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Newark. (I currently hold an MA in religious studies from St. Charles Borromeo in Overbrook, Pennsylvania. As of this year, my archdiocese requires diaconal candidates to earn an MA in theology, so…back to school I go.)
I've been discerning this vocation for a long time—to one extent or another, ever since I was received into the Catholic Church. In our archdiocese, the diaconal program is limited to a single class at a time, so the program only opens once every several years. The last time I looked into it, the program was closed. When it re-opened last year, my pastor sponsored me for the program, I began the year of discernment…and here I am.
Obviously this means significant adjustments in my other activities for the time being, most notably my movie reviewing. For those of you who follow my work, here’s what this means.
First, I’m not leaving film criticism or going on total hiatus.
For a few years, though, I’ll be doing quite a bit less of it, at least through the academic year. In the summers I hope to be back at something like full strength.
The rest of the time, I’ll still be writing reviews for the Register and Decent Films every few weeks or so. I’ll try to make sure I hit at least one notable movie each month, hopefully by or before opening day as usual. I’ll also continue to appear monthly(ish) in Catholic Digest. (If you’re a paying subscriber to either or both of those publications, bless you. You help keep the lights on at Huis Greydanus.) I also hope to continue with “Reel Faith” in the summers—something I find very rewarding, and which also helps keep the lights on—assuming NET keeps bringing us back. (If you’ve enjoyed the show, let the studio know!)
This will be the modus operandi for the next few years, until, God willing, I reach ordination. At that point, I hope to come back to reviewing movies with renewed vigor as Deacon Steven Greydanus…and, in a weird way, all those people over the years who've mistyped my initials as “DSG” will be retroactively right.
Less movie writing (for now) won’t be the only adjustment in my life. I expect I’ll also be pretty much giving up participation in our church choir—for now, because I won’t be able to make practices, and later on because I’ll be assisting in the Mass as a deacon—and that will really grieve me. (Our director of music is extraordinary, and we sing a lot of magnificent music, but our choir is small, and every voice counts—and while I’m not the most skilled singer in our choir, I’m pretty much the loudest.)
There will also be economic implications. With less film reviewing for now, I’ll be earning less money just as our expenses are going up with college tuition costs. (There will also be a cost involved in my graduate studies, though a modest one, with the cost split between myself, the archdiocese and my own parish.) I’ve never tried to monetize Decent Films—I’ve never taken advertising and never accepted donations, though over the years kind people have expressed willingness to contribute if I ever opened the door for it. (Stay tuned.)
Still, I believe this is the best decision, not only for my own sanctification, but for my family (Suz’s support—advocacy, actually—in this has been a cornerstone of my discernment process) and for my parish community. (Although I’ll be at the archbishop’s disposal to assign me anywhere he wishes, the general tradition in our archdiocese is to assign deacons to their own parishes.) I’m grateful to God for the opportunities I’ve to serve Him in the media through my film criticism, but I hope to be of greater use in my local community than I am now.
Ultimately, I think it will benefit my film criticism as well. Certainly I hope I’ll be drawing closer to God and experiencing His operations in my life in a new way, both through my studies and devotions and through the grace of the sacrament itself. (It will also be a new connection with my patron saint, Stephen the Protomartyr, traditionally reckoned one of the first deacons.)
Beyond that, while my days of film classes are probably behind me, I’ve noticed that any course of study tends to make me sharper and more creative in general, so I’m looking forward to seeing how my new studies impact my responses to films and my approach to writing about them.
Of course I want to take this occasion to express my deepest gratitude to you, my readers for up to the last dozen years of my life—particularly those who have taken the trouble to provide thoughtful feedback of any kind, positive or negative. I’ve heard over the years from Catholics and Protestants, Christians and non-Christians, agnostics and atheists. Your thoughful comments, support and criticism has been a big part of the reward of doing this work, and has benefited me and my work immensely.
In the years to come I hope to continue to repay your interest, perhaps more sporadically for a few years, but hopefully with a corresponding increase in quality, especially in the long term. I hope you’ll stay with me. If you think of it, please offer a prayer for me, and I’ll remember you in my prayers.
Keep watching this space.
Soli Deo Goria — SDG
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God Bless you and your family! I will add you to my prayers.
God bless you, SDG. As of today, you are being added to my intentions for the 54 Day Rosary Novena I am participating in. (Started last Wednesday on the feast of the Assumption.) If you’re not familiar with it, we pray 27 days of petition and then 27 days of thanksgiving, cycling through all 4 sets of mysteries every 4 days (but resetting to Joyful when we start the Thanksgiving phase on day 28).
Wowsers, Inspector Gadget! That’s pretty cool news. Looking back, then, that “Whispers of the Heart” review was kind of like Old Bruce Wayne passing on the baton to Terry McGinnis, but still stepping in once in a while whenever the Joker/Tim Drake pops up. Only, you’ll be becoming ordained, which is even cooler than being Batman in many ways.
Anyway, if you need any help with anything just let us know!
What lovely news! God bless you, Steven. We’ll pray for you as you progress in following your vocation.
God bless you and yours as you embark on this new chapter, Steve.
Wow, God bless you Steven. I know that going to grad school and everything else is a huge adjustment but God will provide. Good luck on your studies and I look forward to your reviews, no matter how much less they will be. :)
Your informed reviews will be missed, but we are gaining a deeper servant of God! Keep the faith, and besides summer movies need the most guidance anyway.
God bless you on your discernment. It has been wonderful having so many thoughtful (and fun) reviews from you over the years - your strengths here will certainly translate well in your studies and formation! You’ll be in prayer from us. Newark is blessed to have you.
Congratulations! Very excited to witness your journey, as I am just beginning the third year of a four-year diaconate formation process myself. A word of advice, if I may: strap on your armor, my friend. A wise-beyond-his-years priest friend once told me, “The devil doesn’t want you to be a deacon.” Indeed. Please know of our prayers for you and your family. Pax Christi!
Richest blessings to you, Steven, as you pursue this calling that God has given you. There is no greater joy than doing what God tells you to do, though the sacrifices often cut deeply, and the road is rarely easy. Enjoy your time of study and preparation - may it nourish your mind and soul as you invest your gifts diligently for the Kingdom’s sake. Even with our doctrinal differences, this Protestant is glad to have you on the field as a co-belligerent in the great war for men’s souls. You are an excellent partner and friend.
God givith and he taketh away. God will use Stephen as a Deacon as he does as a Dad and Catholic Film Critic. Say someone were to want to follow in Stephen’s footsteps and do Catholic Film reviews where would they start? How do you get invited to screen films so the review is out on the day of release? Do you get discounts? And how do you decide which films are worth reviewing out of the ones that are coming out? Sept and Oct are not really good months for movies overall. Nov and Dec are looking promising though. Thanks for all you do.
Best wishes as you head to grad school! Been there, done that. It’s loads of work but it’s rewarding when you finish. At least you’ll be around those who are like-minded learning more about the faith and God!
Congratulations on being accepted into the diaconal program!!! Thank you so much for accepting God’s call!!!! We need you.
God bless and good luck! Best wishes to you and your family on this new path.
Congratulations and God bless! And I would like to second Mark Wilson’s question: how would one start to become a Catholic film critic?
Thanks to all! Mark & Evan: I will try to post some thoughts on becoming a film critic soon.
I’ve been a (mostly) silent reader for awhile, but I’ll break that silence to offer my sincerest congratulations and well wishes on your new endeavor!
God Bless you. Thank you for saying yes to God’s calling. We need good men in the Church and your yes leads the way for other men to follow. Also,a big thank you to your wife.
As a wife of a deacon, I’m well aware of the commitment that you AND your family will be making so you are all in my prayers. My husband and I added a son to our family two weeks before the beginning of his formation and one more during. It is a beautiful testament to faith and family to see a young deacon with young children, definitely not easy, but beautiful. God Bless you!
Dear Steven,
I will certainly be praying for you. I was ordained to the diaconate for the Archdiocese of Newark in 2011 - one out of a class of thirty five. After five years together, my classmates and I became, and are, “brothers.” I pray the same will happen for you and your classmates. You will find that diaconal ministry is truly a gift from God.
May God bless you and your family as you journey towards ordination.
God bless Steven, and good luck in undertaking this new phase of your life….you will be in my prayers!!!
Deacon Brian J. Murphy: Thanks so much for your prayers.
We heard about your class. Fr. Teti repeated the Star Wars joke he says he made at your class’s expense on the first day of discernment seven years ago. ;-) He also said that you formed the class with 35 candidates — and all 35 finished the course. God grant that our class does as well.
One thing that will be different this time around is that because we will be doing our studies for credit at the seminary, space will be more limited, and wives won’t be able to attend, alas.
So many congratulations and prayers for so many reasons are in order here, Steve and Suzanne. What a blessing you will be to St. John’s and the archdiocese as a deacon (I cantor at my parish here, and oh how I miss St. John’s music, so I can understand your sadness at leaving such an edifying choir!) In Their Hearts, Rebecca O.
Steven, Congratulations and many blessings on your discernment to diaconate. I struggled, prayed and made the same decision in 2006 and was ordained in June of 2011. May God continue to lead you and although there will indeed be economic implications, you will, in seeking God’s will in this way become richer and so enrich those around you. God speed, Deacon Mike, Missouri.
Steven (my hubby, not you) and I took a leap when we came to COTW to work. I quit my job, we left our house and we moved across, actually up, the country. The job was only for 3 months and a MAJOR cut in pay but we knew it was the right thing to do. We have been here almost 4 years now and Gods blessings on our family for this step have been overwhelming. We still make a lot less money but we are overflowing. The testimony is long and you know a lot about it already but I wanted to encourage you in print as well. God is faithful, you are faithful. Praise God and Amen for an amazing wife.
Thank you do much for your work in film review from a Catholic standpoint. May God bless you and those you love.
Congratulations, and good luck!
Dear Steven…good luck and blessings to you as you follow the path of your patron saint to the diaconate. I really enjoy your movie reviews…they keep me au courant as I seldom actually see many movies, LOL. If I were a man I would have liked to become a deacon as well. I am glad we will still be hearing from you from time to time.
Congratulations, and God bless you in your studies.
This sounds like a great “plot point” in your spiritual journey, Steven. My very best to you and your family as you begin all these new adventures! You’ll be in my prayers.
Steven,
Thanks for everything thus far. You do great work. I greatly enjoy your reviews and Catholic take on film. I typically follow you and Fr. Barron as far as films are concerned. Do you recommend any other film reviewers now that you will be taking on your new role? I will pray for you and you family.
Our family of seven has benefited almost weekly because of your reviews since we were a family of three (about 11 years). You haven’t steered us wrong, so we kept following. Thank you, and we will miss the frequency of your reviews. God bless you and your family.
All the best Steven, you’re a class act!
Congratulations and blessings to you and your family in this noble, new adventure of faith. I am happy you will continue to write movie reviews, albeit fewer of them. You’re my favorite reviewer and an insightful, graceful writer.
Congratulations, Steven, on this latest blessing and on your new child, anniversary, your daughter going off to college, etc. God is using you in amazing ways! You will be a great deacon, a great blessing to the whole Church. Thanks for all you do, and we look forward to continue reading your reviews and hearing more about your diaconal studies.
Congratulations! I wanted to say that your reviews helped me through a time in my life when I became fairly depressed - they reminded me of the clarity, sanity, and wholeness of Christian life - so I’m delighted to hear that you will be taking on more pastoral work. I’m certain many people will be grateful to you for taking this step.
That’s wonderful news! You unwittingly played a great role in my conversion, by your wonderful reviews and talks on Relevant Radio. I was always always impressed by your heart for God and I see this as a natural and God-blessed progression for you and yours. I will continue to look for your reviews and hopefully a report from grad school now and again. I not-so-secretly, would love to do a degree in theology as well. Heartiest congratulations on the new path, the new member of the family, the new college freshman and all the “news” in your life.
Best regards,
Jen Das
Your in-depth reviews have been a huge help in helping us decide which films we should or shouldn’t allow our child/tween/teens to see. Movies can have a powerful impact on a developing character, and we appreciate your generous work from a Catholic perspective. Would you consider publishing an anthology of “Best Movies for Catholic Families?” Congratulations on the birth of your son and may God bless you and your family.
Congrats Steven, just last fall I found out about Decent Films, and watched Reel Faith for the first time. I love watching movies and you changed the way I look at movies. You and David are the Siskel & Ebert of the Catholic world. This week I returned to my second year at college, and when I graduate I dream to be a critic and study film. I hope one day we meet face to face. May God Bless you
Wonderful news Steven, but please do continue to review movies. I’ve been reading you for at least 12 years. If I’m not mistaken, I think I stumbled on your review of The Iron Giant back in 2000(?). I was hooked ever since. I’m a filmmaker, but also a father of four little ones, so I depend on reviews a lot. You and perhaps Todd McCarthy are the only two critics I trust! None-the-less, congratulations. You are an inspiration.
Congratulations and God’s blessing be upon you as you follow His call. Thank you for your movie reviews—you have helped our family look at movies in a new way and you have been a tremendous influence on my teenagers. They respect your opinion and have increased their vocabulary by reading and sharing your reviews.
God Bless you and your family. What a great and shining moment! Thank you for your discernment and choice.
Thank you for answering the call. Thank you for all that you’ve done with Decent Films and NCR. My family and I have benefitted greatly over the past few years - helping us sort through the many films out there and go after the good and avoid the not-so-good. Best wishes.
Blessings and prayers to a future brother deacon, God willing!
Deacon JR
I am going to miss your inciteful and well-thought out commentaries on the website…..decentfilms.com is my go-to for all things cinema. Well, it is for the greater glory of God so, I guess, well, I can cope. God will provide and may He continue to bless you, your wonderful family and your work!
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