Five Degrees

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One of the exciting ministries of my community, the Paulist Fathers, is the film production studio in Los Angeles. In 1960 Fr. Ellwood “Bud” Kieser founded Paulist Productions and over the course of fifty years, created projects that have featured such stars as Raul Julia, Martin Sheen, Carol Burnett, Patty Duke, John Amos, Carroll O’Connor, Walter Matthau, Ed Asner, Blair Underwood, Jane Seymour, Tim Matheson, and Ron Howard.

Kevin_BaconLast week while at our community’s house in Lake George, some of us decided to go see a movie and one of the people in our group was one of the former presidents of Paulist Productions. And as I sat next to him while the previews flashed across the screen, something occurred to me; this person had met a lot of people in Hollywood… which made me realize that I potentially had the opportunity to move up a VERY important list. So I asked him the question.

“So… did you ever meet Kevin Bacon?”

“Uhhh, no. Our paths never crossed.”

Rats.  I’m still five degrees away.

Father Tom Gibbons was ordained a Paulist priest in 2012. Prior to becoming a priest, he spent time as a Jesuit Volunteer in Phoenix, AZ, working with immigrants in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. He's also worked as a graphic designer and web developer, serving nonprofits like Success For All Foundation, Baltimore City Head Start, and Catholic Relief Services. He previously wrote a blog entitled “Kicking and Screaming” for Busted Halo. After serving as a deacon at Holy Trinity Parish in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., Father Tom was sent to St. Peter’s Church in Toronto, where he first served as Associate Pastor and then as the Parish Administrator. In 2016, he produced a documentary on the founder of the Paulist Fathers, entitled “Isaac Hecker and the Journey of Catholic America” – featuring celebrity voices of Martin Sheen, Matt McCoy, and Bob Gunton. Father Tom is currently at work on a new documentary investigating the complicated legacy of the Catholic Church in California with the film “Junipero Serra: Statue of Limitations,” scheduled for release in 2022. In addition to his work as Vice President of Paulist Productions, Father Tom also performs pastoral work at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and Transfiguration Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA.