We could already tell from his new web project, Joe’s People, that Joe Geisler has some bold ideas about the New Evangelization, but on April 1st Joe revealed his most ambitious project to date to ACNM. Because I was not scheduled to post April 1st, here are completely “factual” details.
Geisler is planning to produce a full length musical entitled The Final Odyssey to premiere at the Paramount during South by Southwest. The Final Odyssey will be loosely based on revered Benedictine Troupe Filiolus Pullus. Joe explained, “In the 10th century the Benedictine monks used musical Troupes for both evangelization and to address the burning philosophical questions of they day [Who comes first? Why do they… cross the road?] . Filiolus Pullus is probably the most studied of these troupes because of what modern scholars believe are strong pro-life and social justice themes. I can think of nothing that could better connect to the youth of today than a 10th century forgotten masterpiece.”
Joe is going to have a lot of help bringing Fillioius Pullus to life. First he has recruited a rising screenwriting duo. ACNM’s very own Geoffrey Miller and Lauren Gulde. Together the wonder-kin have made the bold decision to transform a 10th century Benedictine troupe into a 21stcentury Heavy Metal space opera
By ~CarlosNCT http://carlosnct.deviantart.com
The Final Odyssey is the story twelve asteroid miners who leave everything they know behind to fallow a mysterious stranger. Together the companions journey far and wide to heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and tell a universal Gospel of love…. but mostly vanquishing hordes of magical space leeches whose only weakness is hard rock guitar licks. Geoffry Miller boasts, “The message is essentially timeless. The medium is essentially awesome!” Mrs. Gulde added “Geoffry had me at Heavy Metal!”
Joe is remaining tight lipped on the cast, but already, Gina Chavez, Heather Gardner and Lindsey Wilcox have all been rumored to play the lead female role , Our Rock-Princess of the Crab Nebula. Joe did confirm that Bishop Joe S. Vásquez has requested a cameo. Joe explains “I wanted to give the Bishop a role fitting of the utmost respect we all have for our Most Reverend Father … he really wanted a time traveling surf board .”
But for all its promise, the play is not without its detractors. The play’s first director, Britt Holan, has quit reporting they are already ridiculously over budget. “Forget the pyrotechnics, the lasers, our costly legal fight with PETA, and over how in the world Joe can insist on using a live whale for the Jona scene. King Geisler demands that his celestial chorus authentically represent all nine choirs. Do you have any idea how much it costs to cast a legion of Cherubim? DO YOU?”
But probably Joe’s biggest critic is ACNM’s own Jason Elizando. “This play, like most of Joe’s work, seems to make the New Evangelization sound fun and relevant! Is that Catholic? Of course not! Catholic means universal, which if any of us still spoke Latin must clearly translate into dull and out of touch. Isn’t that the Catholic Church that everyone remembers?”
Let me tell you something, honestly when the ACNM first started I expected it to be nothing but a bunch of uninspiring bible studies and ads for bake sales! But lately we have turned into this:
Who wants to read that?! As someone with experience with these sorts of things this fad has just about run its course. If Joe wants his podcast to stand the test of time he should listen to the voice of experience….Bake Sales! Its all about the Bake Sales!”
But Joe laughs off his critics. “OK sometimes I get a little carried away. The important thing is to pull together the many gifts and talents God has blessed us with here in the Diocese of Austin to build something that really interests and speaks to people. If you’re a singer, sing a song of our lord. If your a painter, paint us a picture of paradise. If we are not afraid to use the gifts God has given us and use them the way God has called us for the New Evangelization will be a success. I even know a guy who likes to follow me around juggling models of embryo’s, and that is a talent too… I think. It’s also all for charity!”
My challenge to you from this post is to stop taking everything so seriously and use the gifts God has given you in they way he has inspired you to do so.
[Please note the thoughts and opinions quoted in this article can not be attributed to a sane mind, much less to those they were attributed to. At press time it is has not confirmed if I will ever be allowed to post on April 1st or 2nd again]
