Fabiola Movie Featured Posts
Featured Posts
Closing Summer Campaign LIVEstream in 2 Days
In two days we'll be hosting a LIVEstream to close the FABIOLA Summer Campaign. We'll be drawing and announcing the GIVEAWAY winner as well as giving a taste of our booth at the Michaelmas festival!
We have had a great campaign so far and we are very excited to celebrate the success with you at this LIVEstream. If you aren't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn notifications on so you are notified when we go LIVE!
The LIVEstream is set for Saturday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. PT. Mark your calendar and we'll see you there.
A Special Message from Lord and Lady Salisbury
Have you seen our feature length film Grisly Grisell? Then here’s some old friends of Grisell’s with a special message about FABIOLA. Matt and Kathleen Bowen dress in costume as Lord and Lady Salisbury.
Like Charlotte M. Yonge's novel, FABIOLA will be an inspiring Catholic story brought to screen. But we need your help to make FABIOLA as the movie deserves to be.
Industrious Family is dedicated to telling stories that celebrate virtue and provide entertainment for your family's soul.
Help us in this mission by donating to FABIOLA today. If you are already entered in our giveaway, we will give you a bonus entry for every $100 that you contribute.
You can help bring FABIOLA to completion.
In the News:
Meet the 25-Year-Old Building a Christian Alternative to Hollywood
I had a lot of fun chatting with Faye for an article that she published for The Blaze. We talked a lot about FABIOLA but also about how we got into moviemaking, the moral decline of current productions and more.
If you aren't a Blaze subscriber you can access a PDF version here...
#Give10 to FABIOLA Today!
If you are unable to commit to supporting through large financial contributions, #Give10 is a perfect way to join in the mission of telling the FABIOLA story. Become a part of this film today when you #Give10.
Imagine what we could do if everyone reading this post gave just $10! Together, we can preserve our heritage of faith and share it through powerful storytelling.
Will you join the mission? Donate $10 today or sign up by subscribing to give $10 a month.
The Most Complicated Costume is the Feature of our Final Costume Vignette
We've enjoyed sharing these costume videos with you. With this last in the FABIOLA costume series of shorts we show the Roman Soldier Costume.
We saved the best for last and had to super speed the costuming and give our model a glass of wine to enjoy as he patiently let us put the costume on him.
This one is a must see. Like, share and comment if you enjoyed our costume behind the scene videos.
Thanks, Dad, for being such a good sport as usual.
Good News in Week 4!
Thank you to those who contributed and made a difference in Week 4. We were excited to receive a $1500 contribution toward the end of the week! We are extending the campaign so if you haven't given to the campaign yet, there is still a chance for your donations to be BONUS ENTRIES in our giveaway.
For every one hundred dollars donated, you get one bonus entry in the giveaway.
Special FABIOLA Video Message from Sr. Blandina and Billy the Kid
Last time we heard from Merry Anne Bright about the important work that Industrious Family Films is doing.
This week, Billy the Kid and Sister Blandina touch on the importance of supporting small Catholic businesses. Another topic covered in today's video is how FABIOLA teaches viewers detachment from the world.
And you can support both of these important issues when you give to FABIOLA.
Remember, if you can't contribute financially, you can still help us spread the word and enter our giveaway.
Simply follow Industrious Family on social media, find the giveaway post, like, share and tag three friends.
Get 5 bonus entries when you share it to your Facebook or Instagram story.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Therese from Kansas just gave $30. Double her impact now by matching her $30 donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Enter the Giveaway! 🥳
Someone just gave $100, earning a bonus entry in the summer campaign giveaway! Double the impact now by matching this donation.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Lisa from Washington just gave $40. Double her impact now by matching her $40 donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Angela from Maryland just gave $10. Double her impact now by matching her $10 donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
Giveaway Extended!
We are thrilled to announce that our Party Like a Saint items have arrived just in time for All Saints' Day. Party Like a Saint has donated a saints around the world banner, a variety pack of saint themed pencils, saints from around the world stickers and more to the giveaway basket!
As the years go by and the Satanic elements of Halloween become more and more prominent, Industrious Family Films joins Party Like a Saint in the desire to reclaim All Saint's Day as an important Catholic feast.
So "party like a saint" this Halloween by winning this giveaway!
Thank you to all the businesses that have donated to this giveaway making its value approximately $500.
Originally we had planned on closing the summer campaign with a big giveaway announcement on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross but since we are participating at a Michaelmas festival, we decided that at this event would be the best time to do the drawing.
We will be going LIVE at 6:30 PM PT Saturday, September 19th to wrap up this summer campaign.
We are closing strong with an article published in The Blaze getting us a potential new investor and $3000 raised during the course of the summer campaign. With several members of the team going to a red carpet premiere last week, our desire is stronger than ever to finish FABIOLA and to attend our own red carpet premiere.
We will see you LIVE Saturday!
How Closely Are You Following the FABIOLA Story?
Which Martyr Does NOT Appear in FABIOLA?
FABIOLA brings the courage and sacrifice of the early Christians to the screen. But can you remember which saints appear in the story?
Which of these martyrs does NOT appear in FABIOLA?
Thanks for playing. To learn more about each saint, scroll up and click their names.
Gofer's Interview A Yankee
Fabiola's lead actor Kaleb McConner took some time out of his day for an actor-to-actor interview with lead Gofer Becket Bowen. This episode features snippets of that interview along with the regular Gofer's podcast.
This first of its kind Gofers is unique and its release is perfect timing for our FABIOLA Summer Campaign. Be sure to follow the Gofers' YouTube channel, Industrious Family's channel, comment on this video and be present to win at the September 14th LIVEstream for the giveaway basket drawing, unless we have your contact information. If we don't have your contact information, you must be watching the LIVEstream to win.
🥳 Enter the Giveaway! 🥳
Eric from Idaho just gave $1500, earning him 15 entries in the summer campaign giveaway! Double his impact now by matching his donation.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
John from California just gave $10. Double her impact now by matching her recurring $10 donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Veronica from Indiana just gave $10. Double her impact now by matching her recurring $10 donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Ana from California just gave $10. Double her impact now by matching her recurring $10 donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Michael from Rhode Island just gave $25. Double his impact now by matching his donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
Can You Guess Whose Birthday is Today?
Whose Birthday Is It Today?
Here's a little Catholic trivia to test your knowledge! Whose birthday are we celebrating?
To learn fascinating facts about the other saints and Our Lord, click the other options.
$423 Raised in Week 3 of the Summer Campaign
Thanks to several generous contributors this week, we have successfully raised past the $60,000 mark with the end amount reached $60,122.
In Week 3, we drove the campaign forward by sharing behind the scenes alongside the released scenes. Mary Bowen shared Fulvius' costume and the things that influenced its selection. We celebrated one of the cast member's birthdays and rereleased a video emphasizing why FABIOLA is the story we are telling right now.
Plus, we celebrated our four contributors who made this week a success! Thank you Jill, Joan, Kathy and Patrick for your contributions this week.
We are now entering the final week of our FABIOLA summer campaign. So it is not too late to jump in and make an impact. You can help bring the film to completion by contributing financially or helping us spread the word.
You can also still enter the giveaway before we do the drawing on the 14th by:
- Following Industrious Family on social media, (if you are not already.)
- Like and tag three friends on the giveaway post, (get entered in the drawing.)
- For a bonus entry, donate $100 to the FABIOLA movie. You get 5 bonus entries if you share our campaign posts on your Instagram or Facebook stories!
🥳 Donation Received! 🥳
Patrick from Idaho just gave $23. Double his impact now by matching his donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
Scene 71 - St. Hilarion's Cave
After being forced to drink poison, Fulvius is not only surprised to be alive, but also to be in the company of a friendly stranger.
St. Hilarion, a desert hermit, opens to Fulvius the idea of self-forgiveness, fresh starts and moving on with something that Fulvius has never known before, the grace of God.
At this low point in his life, debts and guilt weighing heavily on him, Fulvius is ready to listen to something that Agnes and Sebastian had been trying to show him.
The question remains, will Fabiola also embrace the Faith of the martyrs?
🥳 Enter the Giveaway! 🥳
Joan just gave $100 which earned her one bonus entry in the Fabiola giveaway. Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post.
Match Joan's donation and get 1 bonus entry!
Tired of Faith Films that Missed the Mark?
We hear about it all the time. Almost every single movie has something in it that disappoints, misses the mark or is all out assaulting on Catholic morals.
Industrious Family gets it. That's why we are making movies for Catholic audiences.
As Catholics ourselves, we know what you are looking for in films. You want an interesting story told in a tasteful way with a moral in keeping with Catholic teaching.
FABIOLA is just such a film. It tells the story of the martyrs. But not only that, it weaves their stories into an interesting narrative that grips viewers and sucks them into the story.And what a story it is! Teaching us that the sacrifice of the martyrs waters the seed of the Church.
Support the film and learn more about the story today.
🥳 Enter the Giveaway! 🥳
Jill from California just gave $200 which earned her two bonus entries in the Fabiola giveaway. Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post.
Match Jill's donation and get 2 bonus entries!
On the Set with Joe McClane
Joe McClane filmed his entire trip to Southern Idaho. In today's video we look back on those fun memories at the sand dunes and Hilarion's cave.
Jump in the dune buggy with Joe, drive the dunes, and then join him in the cave. Plus get behind the scenes on what the filming day looked like from the radio host's perspective.
Happy Birthday, Declan Bowen!
Please join us in wishing Declan Bowen a very happy birthday today! Declan Bowen is cast as the teenage martyr St. Pancratius in Fabiola.
Saint Pancratius, commonly known as Pancras, was arrested at the age of 14 and put to death towards 275 under Diocletian for having refused to sacrifice to the gods.
His constancy earned for him a place among the saints whose joy he shares. His feast is May 12th.
In Fabiola Saint Pancratius is portrayed as the young friend of Sebastian who gives his life for Christ just before the great martyr is also arrested and executed.
Winner to be Announced Sept. 14-Enter the Giveaway
Enter the FABIOLA Summer Campaign giveaway by following, liking and tagging three friends on Giveaway posts on Facebook and Instagram.
You get a bonus entry when you give an increment of $100 to FABIOLA.
The basket includes gifts from 8 businesses and includes
📀DVD of End of the Santa Fe Trail
📿3 beautiful rosaries
🎟️1 year membership to Industrious Family Theater
🔦 Gerber knife and Nebo flashlight
✨ and more with an estimated value of $500
Find us on social media, follow, like, and tag three friends.
Behind the Scenes with Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen has carefully designed and selected the Fabiola costumes. Today, she takes us behind the scenes to look at the costume worn by Aidan Jones in the Agnes Prison Scene.
This costume does more than clothe the villain. It tells about his character.
Fulvius wears all black in this scene which is in stark contrast with Agnes who wears white as a symbol of her eternal wedding to Christ.
Although the contrast was one of the reasons Mary Bowen wanted to select black for the Fulvius character, there is another reason as well. Fulvius is in the darkest moments of his life in this scene.
As Kaleb McConner has commented about Fulvius, he is a character who has a false appearance of power and in no scene is this more obvious than in the Agnes Prison Scene.
At this time, he offers "freedom" to Agnes if she will but consent to marrying him. But Agnes is not interested in this offer of liberty but instead chooses the freedom of Christ. She is indeed a fool for Christ's sake as she is willing to even sacrifice her life rather than go back on her word to Him.
And yet, in the scene it is Fulvius who feels trapped as he is refused and spurned by a mere child who ends up having a stronger will than he possesses. Confused and angered by this reality, Fulvius flees into the darkness as Fabiola makes her entrance to speak to her cousin one last time.
Film Insights from Scene 70
Sneak peek! Watch the complete scene below.
St. Hilarion was a desert father and has been recorded among the Church’s first hermits. It was said that like Padre Pio, he could sense, or rather smell, a soul in mortal sin.
Joe McClane has the privilege to bring this lesser known saint to the screen as he appears in the final minutes of the Fabiola movie. When you watch the above scene, you will notice Hilarion's reaction of disgust as he smells the sin surrounding the two men he has found in the desert.
Another fun fact about this scene is that Joe McClane had a friend especially make him a pair of sandals for this film. Joe McClane came to the scene run though with an accent which he had been cultivating by watching and mimicking a character from Lawrence of Arabia.
Usually we say, “No, no, no, no, no” to accents but Joe McClane's sounded good so we allowed him to keep it in the film. I think that it is from him having a career in radio that it is still easy to understand him.
Kate Witkemper Shares Her Thoughts on Saint Agnes
It was a joy to have a recent convert to the Catholic faith play the role of Saint Agnes in the Fabiola pilot prison scene. Kate Witkemper exuded an air of innocence and wonder as she performed the role of Saint Agnes.
In some ways, the newness of finding the true Faith during her youth prepared her for the role of this virgin martyr we all know and love. In this interview, we discover how she felt about Saint Agnes, Industrious Family Films, and the film Fabiola.
$725 Raised in Week 2 of the Summer Campaign
We closed Week 2 strong with an investor purchasing another unit and two other contributors donating. We were pumped to raise to $725 this week.
Releasing Agnes' costume video, continuing to gather items for the giveaway basket and sharing a special message from Merry Anne Bright are the ways that we drove this campaign forward in Week 2.
Please share this campaign by:
- Following Industrious Family on social media, (if you are not already.)
- Like and tag three friends on the giveaway post, (get entered in the drawing.)
- For a bonus entry, donate $100 to the Fabiola movie. You get entries 5 times if you share our posts on your stories on Instagram or Facebook.
Thank you Karen and Bill, Peggy and Jackie for your contributions.
🥳 Donation Received 🥳
Jackie from Washington just gave $25. Double his impact now by matching his donation or get a bonus entry into our giveaway when you donate $100.
Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post and a bonus entry per $100 donated to the film.
In the News
EWTN's Conversations with Consequences
Kathleen Bowen on Faith, Family and Film - 08/26/2026
Kathleen Bowen was invited onto EWTN's radio show Conversations with Consequences a weekly show with thoughtful dialogue with the leading thinkers of our time on the most consequential issues of our day.
And let me tell you, it was such an honor to have our producer and mother be interviewed on this podcast.
She fielded questions ranging from juggling a large homeschool family and a film business to the dynamics of working on set with her children. That and how we got involved in filmmaking, our streaming service, and the future of the parallel entertainment industry.
Fabiola, End of the Santa Fe Trail, and A Home for Christmas are all discussed as well as our family's favorite movies. You're going to enjoy this 20 minute conversation.
Fabiola Scene Actress Shares Stories from Set
Fabiola actress shares her thoughts after the last day of filming the Fabiola Agnes Prison scene. Here she shares how she applied for the role, a favorite memory and the challenges faced during the long shoot days.
We were very happy to work with Lovey Maher in this scene. She was not contracted for the full film, so Emily Hawk will be replacing her as Fabiola for the full film. We are excited to have Emily Hawk as a part of the Fabiola cast and can't wait to show you her acting talents!
Merry Anne Bright Has a Special Message for You
Industrious Family Films has been called to make films about Catholic heroes.
Faustina Bowen gets in front of the camera in costume as Merry Anne Bright to ask you to help us make these movies on a larger scale so that we can reach a bigger audience.
The story that is currently needing your support is Fabiola, a story about the heroes of the Church of the Catacombs.
You can give a one time contribution or invest in the film. When you do so today you own a piece of this film and this mission. Thank you.
Throwback Thursday! Come Behind the Fabiola Scenes
In this video, Sam Nichols takes us behind the scenes for the Agnes Prison Scene. With actor interviews and clips from the set, experience the two film days that became the Fabiola Pilot.
We look forward to many more shoot days like this that will tell the Fabiola story.
Exploring Fabiola's Character
We found this tool indispensable when developing deeper characters for complex storylines like Fabiola's.
Taking a raw character's "go" which leads to a "find" and ends with "change" really makes these people relatable to audiences. Take a deep dive into Fabiola's progress and how she grows and develops as a character.
Please Consider Giving a One Time Contribution or Investing in FABIOLA Today!
If you haven't watch our summer campaign torch, please watch it now. If you have, please share it so we can spread it far and wide. This broadens our reach and helps more people experience the story of Fabiola.
We invite you to join us in telling this story. You can become a part of this story today through investing or giving a one time contribution. Your gift, large or small, helps bring Fabiola to the big screen.
🥳 Enter the Giveaway! 🥳
Bill and Karen from Colorado just gave $500 which earned them five bonus entries in the Fabiola giveaway. Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post.
Match Bill and Karen's donation and get 5 bonus entries!
🥳 Enter the Giveaway! 🥳
Peggy from Idaho just gave $100 which earned her a bonus entry in the Fabiola giveaway. Enter the giveaway when you follow Industrious Family on social media, like, share and tag 3 friends on the giveaway post.
Match Peggy's donation and get a bonus entry!
Test Your Knowledge!
Who Is the Patron Saint of Actors?
Which of these saints is the patron saint of actors?
Thanks for playing and stay tuned for more games like this!
NEW Video! YouTube Short on Saint Agnes' Costume
Come behind the scenes and get an up close look at some of the costumes that have been used in the Fabiola movie. Today, creative director Mary Bowen shows off the costume that was worn by St. Agnes in the Prison Scene.
Agnes' costume is deeply symbolic. Although she will have several costumes for the film, Agnes wears white to symbolize her virginity. In the costume Mary Bowen is showing today, Agnes' attire is a combination of white and blue. White for her virginity, blue for her model: the Blessed Virgin Mary.
With our high modesty standards, the white costume we purchased needed a little adjusting and so we added a blue skirt and little patch of blue to bring the neckline a little higher.
The costume is completed with Roman sandals. Watch Mary's video now to see the full costume come together.
Week 1 Funding Update
We have raised $250 this week!
Releasing Fabiola's costume video, hosting a LIVEstream and announcing a giveaway are the ways that we drove this campaign forward in Week 1.
We are hoping for more reach as the campaign progresses so please share this campaign.
Thank you William and Cynthia for your donations. You are both entered in the giveaway.
LIVEstream Party on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart: August 22nd
It's only two days away! We are counting down the days until our LIVEstream party on August 22nd at 6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET. If you are not subscribed to our newsletter yet, now is a great time as we will send out a notification reminder the day of the LIVEstream so you don't miss it.
Tell your friends, gather the family, pop some pop-corn and get ready for an hour filled with fun stories and updates from Mary, Faustina and Kathleen Bowen.
PLUS! We will have a surprise guest, games and a giveaway if we hit our LIVEstream goal!
We are looking forward to having you join the discussion. See you there!
Get Close-up with Fabiola's Costume in this Behind the Scenes
Come behind the scenes and get an up close look at some of the costumes that have been used in the Fabiolamovie. Today I, Mary Bowen creative director of the film Fabiola, show off the costume that was worn by Fabiola in the Pilot Scene.
I have had fans and even podcasters during interviews want to chat about how I made these costumes. Fabiola's here is made out of a gorgeous mauve base dress and an apricot wrap. The whole dress is ties on by a teal belt. Large conches, sandals and a Roman hair-do complete the look.
Help us continue telling this story by supporting the film here. Every donation helps get this story closer to completion!
If you give a one time contribution of $400 today, three costumes will be purchased for future scenes.
We are looking for investors at the executive producer credit level of $125,000 which helps us make 8 scenes and gets your name on an opening slide before the movie along with other perks.
🥳 Give to Enter into the Giveaway Now! 🥳
William from Texas just gave $150. Match his donation now and get entered for a chance to win our Fabiola giveaway! Or give $200 to get two entries.
You can also enter when you like, share and comment on any campaign post.
Watch the Fabiola Pilot
It was with great joy, pride and a major sense of accomplishment when we released our pilot scene for Fabiola. The above scene has even received great praise from the Angel Guild after it passed the Defenders voting round.
Reactions ranged from "Excellent costumes. And even though we only see one set, it is well done," to the more deep responses that we hope the entire film will inspire in viewers, "Strong Christian testimonies in the face of torture/death. Many Christians around the world face persecution on a daily basis. Really makes you think what do I believe and would I be that strong."
This story deserves to be brought to the screen are we are honored to be the ones to do it for the first time as an English adaptation.
It was always the intention of this scene that it would be used as a pilot. While the actors did a great job, they were never contracted for the whole film. We knew that we would need to re-film it.
If you invest $15,000 today, we could remake this scene with Kaleb McConner and Emily Hawk!
Remember: no contribution is too small! Over the course of 10 months, our dedicated #Give10ers have already donated $100 each. High-five to our #Give10ers!
In the News
Iowa Catholic Radio's The Catholic Morning Show
From Homeschool Movie Nights to a Full Catholic Epic: Mary Bowen on Filming Fabiola – 08/05/2026
Bo Bonner interviews Mary Bowen and gets some background on Industrious Family Films and what we've been up to.
After a discussion about how we all lean in on what we're good at - being able to pull off films as a family crew - Mary Bowen shares updates on our current feature Fabiola along with the film's timeline.
Two scenes are available to watch and investments and contributions are helping this film continue its principal photography.
Mary Bowen further shares why Fabiola is the story we chose to tell.
A lot of good Catholic stories haven't been brought to the screen and Fabiola is the epic novel that is our dream project and we just knew that now is the time to make this film, especially as we are seeing how the crowdfunding model brought to us by Angel and The Chosen can make Catholic films made on a large scale a reality.
You can listen to this 10 minute episode below.
How We Designed The FABIOLA Prison Set
So far in the production of Fabiola, we have only built one set. This was of course the prison set used in the pilot scene.
As explained in this video we used the set to tell the story using light and the positions of where the characters related to each other. The praise that we received from audiences after watching the scene made all the preparation and hard work that we put into this set pay off.
We look forward to bringing the other locations of Fabiola to life by building personalized sets like this one.
Our Biggest FABIOLA Campaign Yet Begins August 15th
Happy Feast of the Assumption! Today is the official first day of our Fabiola Summer Campaign 2026.
We are eager to tell this story about the early Church martyrs through this film.
In the following weeks we are going to be sharing LIVEStreams, fresh video content and even some exciting perks!
Our goal is to reach full funding so that we can bring this film to the screen.
Happy Feast Day!
Under the protection of Our Lady under the title Virgin Most Powerful do we entrust our Fabiola Summer Campaign. We trust she will get us all the graces we need to succeed in completing filming and post production of the film Fabiola in the way that best glorifies God and is good for the spiritual lives of all those involved.
Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us.
A Patron of the Fabiola Film
The Napa Institute Arts Festival included a “visual arts gallery”. It was a little a part from where the conference took place, but we had been provided with a map on entering, so finding it was a piece of cake. When we stepped in, I felt right at home and wanted a glass of champagne was brought on a tray.
The gallery was a mix of Old Hollywood movie posters (complete with descriptions and a little history on each!) and religious pieces made by artists today. My favorite of the latter was this beautiful oil painting of St. Thérèse.
I have a special connection to her as she is my confirmation saint. I chose her because I love the idea of “small things all the time for Christ”. When I was confirmed at the age of 9, I contemplated this path to sainthood and thought “I think I can handle that.” I’m not saying it’s easy or that I do it perfectly of course, but I do try!
Beside the beautiful painting was a small reliquary which we were later told held a small strand of her hair that was cut at her profession.
This saint is also a patron of Fabiola as the novel was highly praised by the saint. Perhaps it influenced her pursuit of the “Little Way”. She is always remembered for her revered awe and admiration for Saint Joan of Arc, but I like to imagine what she must have thought about Saint Agnes, a young girl just like her.
To see the film that inspired the Little Flower through to completion, donate today!
In the News
Wake Up! Catholic Community Media 08-04-2026: Fabiola
Retracing the steps that led from filming Outlaws of Ravenhurst as a homeschool group film project to the $1 million feature Fabiola, Mary shares her amazing journey.
Mary also tells the gist of the story of Fabiola demonstrating how Fabiola's dilemma relates directly to the same dilemma we all face today. Am I going to live a comfortable life or am I going to follow the example of the saints?
Sharing also the filmmaking process from script to release and explaining on how in order to see this film through we are going to need help from crowdfunders Chosen-style, Mary closes the interview telling why Fabiola is her dream film project.
This is a great show and can be watched on YouTube by clicking play on the video below.
Before We Can Conquer Sin: The Lesson at the Heart of FABIOLA
On a recent 3 day, 53 mile pilgrimage I heard many great talks, meditations and sermons but one sermon in particular brought to my mind the film Fabiola.
In this sermon Father talked about the three things it is to be Catholic. He mentioned that to the modern world the ONE thing that Catholics are obsessed with is not sinning.
He remarked that if this was truly the most important thing to be Catholic was, then why do we constantly fall back into the same old sins that we resolve to amend?
He then went on to say that of the three things it means to be Catholic, this feature is the last step for we cannot get to this stage unless we take the proper steps.
- Detach ourselves from the world. The world literally has nothing to offer us compared to what Christ has to offer.
- Love Jesus Christ. Once one has rejected the world, there is a vacuum in the soul. The soul must be captivated by something, that is why we long for love. The best place to fill the void is in Our Lord.
- And avoid sin. This is the final stage and it is only obtainable if we have taken the right steps. To the rest of the world, this is what they think it is to be Catholic.
The reason why this sermon reminded me of Fabiola is because the first two stages are central themes of the story.
The character of Torquatus does not detach himself from the world making it easy to fall right back into his sins. He does not find peace until he rejects the world.
Fabiola eventually realizes that the world has nothing to offer her and the Faith has everything.
St. Agnes has not only forgotten the world but has moved on to the next step and shows what it is like to actually be in a romantic relationship with Christ making it easy to avoid sin.
If you like me think this film needs to be made, please show your support by donating today.
In the News
08-07-26 Spirit Mornings Show
Recently Mary Bowen director of Fabiola spent some time visiting with Jen Brown and Damian Montez on the Spirit Mornings Show. Mary shared about how a TV-free childhood lead her on a journey to making her dream film Fabiola. If you missed it, you can listen below.
Mark Your Calendars! We Are Having A Party!
We are pumped for our Fabiola Summer Campaign which begins on the Feast of the Assumption and will run through the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.
Mark your calendars because we are going to have a LIVEstream party on August 22nd at 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET. If you are not subscribed to our newsletter yet, now is a great time as we will send out a notification reminder the day of the LIVEstream so you don't miss it.
Hope to see you there!
Happy Birthday to Emily Hawk!
Join us in wishing Emily Hawk a very happy birthday! Emily is anxiously waiting to film a scene in Fabiola as the title character. Support at fabiolamovie.com.
In the News
Catholic Connection - Cultural Connections on Fauci, Blessed Solanus Casey, Housing Crisis..A Moral Crisis
If you missed Fabiola Director Mary Bowen’s interview on EWTN Radio's Catholic Connection, you can check it out below! Mary shared the ways that she is using her God-given talents to better the world, shared the little known connection of St. Therese to the novel Fabiola, and gave an optimistic release date for the film to be in theaters.
Fabiola Pilot Photo Gallery
1. Behind The Scenes FABIOLA Pilot Photo Gallery
What a fun movie shoot week! The entire scene was shot in just two shoot days, but the fun was stretched through an entire week since everyone on set was flying in from far away.
Before picking up the actors at the airport, Mary, Faustina, Becket, and Patrick met the FABIOLA script theological consultant for breakfast. The team has known him over the years through the internet but really enjoyed meeting him in person at last.
After breakfast, the group headed over to the airport to pick up Lovey, Aidan, and Laura Ruth. It was great meeting them in real life after having only met them so many times on Skype. On the return trip home, there was a small tire issue but Becket and Patrick saved the day.
The rest of the family, Kate, her dad, Nathan Fuerstenau (actor) and Sam Nicholes (actor) met up with the others for dinner in the park. Producers Matt and Kathleen got the dinner ready while the young folks played croquet.
The following day, the actors voted to walk a 5 mile hike. It was a little strenuous for some in the group but everyone left with a few stories to tell and maybe a sunburn or two.
A total of 8 ticks were found crawling on several members of the group.
Afterwards the party headed over to the Airbnb on the river. Patrick got out a few speakers and plugged in the electric guitar. Aidan and Sam played the piano in the frontroom.
The rest of the cast and crew played pool, card games and crocheted.
With everyone together for the first time and after a fun day where everyone got to get used to each other, we cleared out the living room and did the first dry run.
After dinner the actors ran through the scene. Lovey, Aidan and Kate had practiced the lines over Skype many times but this time they were able to incorporate their placements and movements. It was good to get this ironed out so that precious set time was not wasted.
The next day the team hit the set location for filming! The morning process began with costuming and make-uping the 5 actors.
Kathleen Bowen has come up with a pretty streamline application process for hair and makeup (HMU) but it still takes a really long time to HMU everyone.
For the Fabiola Prison scene, Kathleen did all the makeup and the creative director, Mary, did Lovey Maher's hair. The team has realized that HMU takes quite a bit of time. For every page of script an hour of filming should be allotted. But it takes at least three hours to film a single page due to HMU.
Homeschoolers, does this remind you of one of those mental math problems from Saxon math? If it takes three hours to film one page of script and an additional half hour per additional page, how many hours does it take to film a 5 page scene?
This formula has worked pretty well for Industrious Family Film's call sheets. This time, however, they realized that they should have had Lovey in HMU two hours before the other actors and the rest of the crew arrived. This would have been complicated in some ways because the cast and crew were all carpooling and transportation to and from the set was another schedule that had to be considered.
If you are a beginning filmmaker you can learn all about the filming process in our comprehensive movie making e-course. This is a course that takes you through the entire process of making a movie as you progress at your own pace. Unlike our Constitution, it is a living, breathing document and we are updating it as we discover better ways of making movies.
Once that process was done the team moved the action to the set. Everyone performed a few run throughs just to get the kinks out.
Then filming started.
St. Agnes’ close shots were filmed first. Kate (Agnes) led the scene very well, though this part took longer than expected.
The cast and crew took a lunch break after Agnes' close shots. The shooting resumed after lunch with Aidan's and Lovey's close shots. This was a meticulous process with perfection being sought in every shot. The lights needed a little bit of adjusting, but for the most part they were already set up.
Kathleen and Laura monitored the acting while everyone else enjoyed watching. The entire crew was rather relieved that two days were planned for shooting because by the end of the shoot it was obvious that this scene was going to need a few more shots.
After the film day was complete, the cast and crew regrouped at Yurtopia. There the nature trail was enjoyed and dinner was prepared. Sam led everyone in a few dances, and Mr. Witkemper generously bought the whole group ice cream. The older people enjoyed the camp fire and cigars into the night while the younger people star tipped.
Mary asked Lovey (Fabiola) after the shoot if she was expecting it to be so much work. She happily replied that she was having a lot of fun and was really enjoying herself. The other actors expressed as much.
The next morning found cast and crew back at it. Once again, costuming and make-uping began the day before moving onto set to finish filming the scene. This day was practically a repeat of the previous day, this time focusing on Lovey's (Fabiola) and Aidan's (Fulvius) close-ups.
After the second shoot day, Sam and Laura interviewed the actors.
How I Was Able To Connect With Others While Discovering Old Friends From Across The Country For The First Time On The FABIOLA Scene Set
Early before dawn on the morning on June 11th , my husband drove me and my oldest daughter to the airport a little over an hour away. Being that it was around 3 or 4 in the morning, she and I had time to nap or at least rest our eyes.
But we were both wide awake.
We were on our way to Idaho to meet the Bowen family of Industrious Family Films. It was the first time that I would fly somewhere with just my daughter, her first time to go to Idaho and my first time flying into Spokane, WA.
From Internet Friends To Meeting In Person: Catching The First Glimpse Of Our New Old Friends
When Mary and Faustina arrived to pick us up in at the Spokane airport, it was like meeting old friends for the first time. If that sounds like an oxymoron, let me explain.
Last October, I received an email from a friend at church telling me about a project her friend was
involved in and asking if we could donate to the cause. I looked at the website for Industrious Family right away to check it out, because I was immediately hooked.
Here I discovered a Catholic homeschooling family that was planning to make a film.
In fact, they had already made two feature length films and 2 shorts. They had all their films for sale on DVD on the website. In addition to this, I found a casting call for their current project.
Having acted in community theatre in my youth and majoring in Video Production in college, it was evident to me that this family, led by the two oldest sisters, was living out dreams similar to my own when I was their age. This was a great opportunity to connect with others who had dreams just like me.
So, I did what any level headed Midwest Mom of 4 young children would do. I filled out that casting call. I also persuaded my husband that we should make a contribution to the project.
Surreal Transformations: How Online Meetings Led To A Movie Set Experience
The Bowens got back to me right away and there ensued a correspondence through emails, phone calls, and Skype and Zoom conferences.
I also looked to see if they had accounts with any social media that I was using. I found Kathleen on LinkedIn and Mary on Instagram. I started following them and sharing their posts. (Follow them on these platforms if you can. It is a great way to connect with others, especially Catholic moviemakers.)
In November, we did a virtual read-through of the script and I got to meet the Bowen family, the other actors on the call and read Lucina’s lines.
Fast forward to March, they were making concrete plans to film the pilot scene that would involve three of the main characters. I got an email inviting the actors and contributors to the filming. I really wanted to connect with others who were making these Catholic films.
Right away, I told them that I would like to come out, but I would have to see about making arrangements. It wasn’t easy, but in the end it all worked out. My niece, Bella, came from MO to stay with my 3 younger children while I was away so that my husband wouldn’t have to take off from work.
Another friend from church came to the rescue and entertained the kids for 2 of the days to keep them busy and occupied, giving Bella a break and keeping the kids from missing me too much.
And Then I Was Off In A Whirlwind Of Plans Preparing To Go To Idaho Not Only For The FABIOLA Scene Filming But To Connect With Others!
It was the longest that I had been away from home with someone other than my husband watching the kids.
And those times were for a 5-day spiritual retreat, usually done between new babies. And that’s how my daughter and I ended up in Idaho visiting the Bowens and other friends in ID for 7 days.
We spent 2 days on set for the filming. The rest was spent in driving (gripping the passenger arm rests while Mary drove up and down the mountain, I’m a flatlander, after all), BBQing, watching the young people play croquet, hiking, sitting on the deck of a cabin watching birds fly over the Salmon River, singing karaoke, watching the young people learning dancing (kind of like a mix between square dancing and English Country dancing), sitting around a campfire, talking, watching the kids do star tipping and in general having a really good time!
Unforgettable Moments: How the Bowen's Love Shone During FABIOLA Filming
Meeting everyone *in real life* was a wonderful experience, the chance of a lifetime. I am so grateful to them for inviting us to be along for it and so grateful for my husband being gracious enough to agree to me going out West for a week. When you connect with others who have similar values and beliefs, it’s so refreshing; it’s good for the soul.
There’s a song by James Taylor that says, “You can’t make old friends...” but we were old friends right away.
-Instant friends, just add water-
In other words, just put a group of traditionally minded Catholics together and there are instant
friendships. I also want to take a moment to thank the Bowen family for their hospitality. They treated us really well while we were there and made everything seamless. That’s what brought to mind the quote above from John 13:35. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.”
The Bowen family showed us the love of Christ and for this, we are grateful.
How Children Can Draw Lessons From Books And Films Preparing Them For Adult Life
What if I said that we have the same goals and dreams? How would I know that?
Well, we both want to get our children to heaven. They are our most valued assets. We would even hope that we could give them everything they need to become a saint and to join the Saints that reside in the Beatific Vision for all eternity.
We all live in the same world and face the same obstacles.
How do we avoid the allure of the world with its bad entertainment and devices, but still satisfy the human needs and desires for belonging and common experiences among peers, who will truly becoming the future community of our children?
Children Should Be Immersed In Tales Of Heroic Deeds And Examples
One way to do this is to immerse our children in the stories so that they can learn valuable lessons from books. They should hear and read stories of war heroes, legends, fairy tales of Grimm, fables of Aesop, and biographies of saints.
Good stories enable children to face what evils exist in the world in a form and manner that they can handle and comprehend. That means that you don’t expose them to the dangers of society around us, but you expose them to good literature which presents the evils in such a way that they are not immediately threatening.
Instead, they give you and your children space and time to contemplate what the characters in the story should do or could have done better. This translates to virtues and wisdom that we can internalize and have at the ready for the day when we’ll need to use these in scenarios that we will encounter in the real world. These are invaluable lessons from books.
Powerful Lessons From Books That Inspire Change and Justice
Literature also usually gives a satisfactory ending to the story so that all the characters are either reformed or converted at the end or given their due, and justice is accomplished, depending on what is most appropriate.
You can choose what literature you bring into your house and what you allow your children to peruse.
You are the gatekeeper.
What a relief it is to discover someone else fighting with you on your side. When you realize that there are others in this world who also want the best for your children, including their spiritual best, it’s as though you found a valuable ally in the fight.
Exploring the Dynamic Characters and Their Influence in Cardinal Wiseman's Fabiola
Cardinal Wiseman was very aware of the power of a good influence that one can have on another. His main character Fabiola came into her own as a young adult in ancient Rome. She would go from a self-centered, flighty girl to a young lady who knew her worth, but still respected and treated others around her with charity. She owed that metamorphosis to the saints that comprised her inner circle of friends and acquaintances. Agnes, Sebastian and many others influenced her for the good.
This story takes place during a time which is alarmingly similar to our own. We are living in a post-Christian society and we are seeing striking similarities to the pre-Christian society as found in Fabiola. Like the Christians in this story, we are called to be a light in a darkened world and bring the flame of truth to those who have wandered so far from it that they don't even know what it is.
The Stories That Make You Are The Stories That You Carry With You All Your Life
Good books, uplifting literature and noble stories can be the inner circle of good influence for our children. This is a great way to teach your children real life lessons from books.
Like Fabiola, we should take special care that we surround our children with good friends who lead with heroic example even if these can only be found in literature and good films. Thank you for taking the time to look at this Industrious Family Films project which is bringing to life the good story of Fabiola and help us give our children an inner circle of holy friends so that they, too, can go forth and be a good friend to others.