‘The Mass’ DVD series

Published June 22, 2018

Father Stephen Gadberry, pastor of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecelia Church in Newport, is featured in Bishop Robert Barron’s newest film series “The Mass,” available now on DVD. The six-episode series stems from lectures given by Bishop Barron, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Santa Barbara last October.

Father Gadberry is featured in non-speaking roles throughout the six episodes, portraying different actions of a priest, from incensing to celebrating Mass. Father Gadberry said Father Steve Grunow, CEO for Word on Fire, along with Sean Bryan, the “Papal Ninja,” had convinced him to try out for NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” which premiered May 30.

“Father Steve contacted me, we’ve met, and just asked if I’d be interested in doing these B-roll parts, standing as the priest, so there could be that visual aid,” Father Gadberry told Arkansas Catholic.

Around the same time of his tryout for the reality show, he “went to Chicago on a Sunday after Mass, filmed my whole day off and then came back to the parish.”

“To be honest with you, I’m more excited about this than the ninja thing because it will have a longer lasting impact,” he said.

A commemorative special edition DVD set is available for $59.95 while supplies last. Aside from the series, the set also includes: instant digital streaming access; two bonus DVD’s “The Eucharist” (a four-part series) and the short film, “Heroic Priesthood”; and a downloadable supplementary eBooklet to “The Mass,” titled, “Why Stay Away? Encountering Heaven On Earth!”

“The Mass” series is 145 minutes and includes English and Spanish audio and subtitles. The first episode can be viewed for free online at mass.wordonfire.org/episode1. The special edition set can be ordered at mass.wordonfire.org/nowavailable.