Sacred Story, Modern Myth: Praying with Pop Culture

Discover a faith alive in every story—where God speaks not just in quiet prayers, but through the media that move us. This program invites participants to experience God’s presence not only in their personal journeys but also in the stories that animate our culture—movies, songs, books, and comics—echoing Ignatius’ invitation to “find God in all things”. Building on the natural impulse to share powerful stories with friends (“Have you seen this?”), we examine how that desire might reflect something sacred—an invitation from God to recognize the divine within everyday narratives.

Central to the experience are four key Ignatian principles:

Sensing God’s presence in everything
Embracing the imagination to dream larger during prayer as Ignatius did in his recovery
Entering stories as part of contemplative prayer
trusting the 15th annotation—that God deals directly with each of us and remains active in our stories.

Structuring the journey, we overlay the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises with Joseph Campbell’s mythic framework and lessons from “Save the Cat!”: beginning with a loving look at the status quo and recognizing its limitations, then answering the call to a transformative journey inspired by a mentor (Jesus and other heroes), passing through darkness and struggle (the Passion), and finally, returning to community, transformed and ready to serve (the Resurrection).

Participants will have time to reflect at each stage through personal prayer, small and large group conversations, and Mass. The approach includes “praying with pop culture” by watching short films, reflecting on guided meditations (including from “My Life with the Jedi”), and sharing insights—finding God’s story woven into both their lives and the stories the world tells.