Production for Realfaith TV's 15th season concludes
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
“Jesus tells us, go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Nick Ciccone, co-host of Realfaith TV, commented.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
“While we are not really out there baptizing, this is how we can share our faith and evangelize,” Ciccone said as he surveyed teens and their families who gathered to wrap up another season of show, celebrate Mass and share a meal Aug. 7.
Realfaith TV, now in its 15th season, is an award-winning, faith-based series for teens. The mission of the show is to “strengthen, deepen, and inform the faith of Catholic and Christian teens and to reach out to teens [who] are looking for answers to many of the issues we face in today’s world, and help them to deal with those issues through a Catholic faith perspective.”
This season, Realfaith TV tackled difficult topics such as war, relationships, modesty and human trafficking. A new feature of the show this year was the inclusion of a parish youth group or high school students in the Diocese of Trenton who opened the show and added their thoughts.
As Marianne Hartman, director of the Department of Radio and Television offered, “The teens who participate in the show not only live the mission of Realfaith TV and help strengthen the faith of those who view the programs; they, too, have their faith lives enriched through participating.”
“Each ‘kid’ has a different experience and gets something different out of their participation on Realfaith TV. For some it may be increasing their knowledge about their Catholic faith, (and for) others it’s the opportunity to share their faith with their peers, or to learn how a television show is produced,” she continued.
“Hopefully they all come away from the experience understanding a little more about their Catholic faith and how practicing their faith can help them to build a stronger relationship with God,” Hartman said.
That forging of a stronger relationship with God and sharing the faith is something that the teens were applauded for by Father Joseph Jakub, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, who celebrated the Mass for the teens and their families in St. Mary Church, Bordentown. Realfaith TV is recorded at Riverview Studios, also located in Bordentown.
“You are trying to get people to see the truth (about) who our Lord actually is,” said Father Jakub, as he addressed the young people. “You have to be someone who personally knows who our Lord is.”
The teens who hail from all four counties in the Diocese, shared how they enjoy participating.
Co-host Karalee Hinz, who attends Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle, shared, “It’s cool to get to know everyone and meet everyone and listen to the views and share ideas. My faith has been enormously strengthened.”
Julianna Granito, a sophomore in St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, and member of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, provided similar sentiments. “I learned a lot about God and I learned that there was so much more that I could do,” she said.
Beverly J. Zaneczek, a parishoner from St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, whose daughter, Allie, participates on the show, told of how she was contacted by a relative who lives out-of state and caught an episode of Realfaith online. “Your show truly reaches people beyond the Diocese of Trenton,” she said.
Addressing the group of RFTV teens and some of their family members, Rayanne Bennett, the Diocese’s executive director of communications, extended words of appreciation of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. She said, “He is very grateful for the role that you have played in making this season possible.”
Bennett added, “You know long before there were such things as the new evangelization, and even ‘new media,’ there was Realfaith TV. For the past 15 years, this program has been reaching out to youths everywhere through this extraordinary medium of television.”
She told the participants, “What you have done is here is very bold – you have been bold in witnessing to your belief in Jesus Christ. Now you need to take that bold faith into your lives and your communities to share it. You need to remain bold in your faith.”
Recognizing the dedication and passion that the staff and partners of the Diocese’s Department of Radio and Television bring to this project, Bennett credited them each by name, drawing applause.
While the teens enjoyed an evening of camaraderie and laughs, they also had an opportunity to watch scenes that never made it on-screen, including a “blooper reel.”
While the new season has yet to air, teens are invited to check out past episodes on-line (www.realfatihtv.com) and on YouTube (youtube.com/realfaithtv).
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By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
“Jesus tells us, go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Nick Ciccone, co-host of Realfaith TV, commented.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
“While we are not really out there baptizing, this is how we can share our faith and evangelize,” Ciccone said as he surveyed teens and their families who gathered to wrap up another season of show, celebrate Mass and share a meal Aug. 7.
Realfaith TV, now in its 15th season, is an award-winning, faith-based series for teens. The mission of the show is to “strengthen, deepen, and inform the faith of Catholic and Christian teens and to reach out to teens [who] are looking for answers to many of the issues we face in today’s world, and help them to deal with those issues through a Catholic faith perspective.”
This season, Realfaith TV tackled difficult topics such as war, relationships, modesty and human trafficking. A new feature of the show this year was the inclusion of a parish youth group or high school students in the Diocese of Trenton who opened the show and added their thoughts.
As Marianne Hartman, director of the Department of Radio and Television offered, “The teens who participate in the show not only live the mission of Realfaith TV and help strengthen the faith of those who view the programs; they, too, have their faith lives enriched through participating.”
“Each ‘kid’ has a different experience and gets something different out of their participation on Realfaith TV. For some it may be increasing their knowledge about their Catholic faith, (and for) others it’s the opportunity to share their faith with their peers, or to learn how a television show is produced,” she continued.
“Hopefully they all come away from the experience understanding a little more about their Catholic faith and how practicing their faith can help them to build a stronger relationship with God,” Hartman said.
That forging of a stronger relationship with God and sharing the faith is something that the teens were applauded for by Father Joseph Jakub, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, who celebrated the Mass for the teens and their families in St. Mary Church, Bordentown. Realfaith TV is recorded at Riverview Studios, also located in Bordentown.
“You are trying to get people to see the truth (about) who our Lord actually is,” said Father Jakub, as he addressed the young people. “You have to be someone who personally knows who our Lord is.”
The teens who hail from all four counties in the Diocese, shared how they enjoy participating.
Co-host Karalee Hinz, who attends Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle, shared, “It’s cool to get to know everyone and meet everyone and listen to the views and share ideas. My faith has been enormously strengthened.”
Julianna Granito, a sophomore in St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, and member of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, provided similar sentiments. “I learned a lot about God and I learned that there was so much more that I could do,” she said.
Beverly J. Zaneczek, a parishoner from St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, whose daughter, Allie, participates on the show, told of how she was contacted by a relative who lives out-of state and caught an episode of Realfaith online. “Your show truly reaches people beyond the Diocese of Trenton,” she said.
Addressing the group of RFTV teens and some of their family members, Rayanne Bennett, the Diocese’s executive director of communications, extended words of appreciation of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. She said, “He is very grateful for the role that you have played in making this season possible.”
Bennett added, “You know long before there were such things as the new evangelization, and even ‘new media,’ there was Realfaith TV. For the past 15 years, this program has been reaching out to youths everywhere through this extraordinary medium of television.”
She told the participants, “What you have done is here is very bold – you have been bold in witnessing to your belief in Jesus Christ. Now you need to take that bold faith into your lives and your communities to share it. You need to remain bold in your faith.”
Recognizing the dedication and passion that the staff and partners of the Diocese’s Department of Radio and Television bring to this project, Bennett credited them each by name, drawing applause.
While the teens enjoyed an evening of camaraderie and laughs, they also had an opportunity to watch scenes that never made it on-screen, including a “blooper reel.”
While the new season has yet to air, teens are invited to check out past episodes on-line (www.realfatihtv.com) and on YouTube (youtube.com/realfaithtv).
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