A Catholic television production company has created an advent calendar that comes with free access to 24 documentaries that capture the reality of Christian life in different countries around the world.
Because of the pandemic, Advent this year will be very different for many people this year. To help prepare for the feast of the Nativity, the documentary film production company Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN), in cooperation with the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), offers free access on its YouTube channel to 24 stories of faith in remote countries and regions.
The documentaries are not up-to-date reports, but rather a “window” that will help viewers to prepare for the arrival of Christ by watching stories of heroism, dedication and suffering of the faithful in countries like Israel, Venezuela, Pakistan, Nicaragua, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Egypt, Indonesia, Ukraine and Belarus, among others.
Stories such as that of Shahbaz Bhatti, defender of the rights of minorities in Pakistan, who was assassinated March 2, 2011 in Islamabad. His “window” will open December 4 to coincide with the feast of Saint Barbara who died a martyr for defending the faith. Then, there is the “window” of December 6, which features Father Michael Shields’ work, a modern-day Saint Nicholas of Bari, who helps the poor and abandoned in Magadan, Russia.
The documentaries—which, so far, are only available in English—were broadcast in 2015 and 2016 on 80 television channels around the world.
Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN) was founded in 1987. With the support of Aid to the Church in Need, it produces documentaries, weekly radio and television interviews and short-format programmes broadcast on 133 Catholic and public channels.
Through information, prayer and action, ACN supports Christians who are persecuted, oppressed or in need. The foundation has national offices in 23 countries and annually supports more than 5,000 projects in more than 130 countries.
The calendar is available at www.crtn.org/advent
