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What People Are Saying About The Faithful Traveler
Look for an upcoming article about The Faithful Traveler in Philadelphia’s Archdiocesan Newspaper, The Catholic Standard & Times
And coming soon... an article in The National Catholic Register!!
August 11: Julie at Happy Catholic has this to say about our DVD:
"Two of my favorite books are [Kevin J. Wright's] Catholic Shrines of Western Europe and Catholic Shrines of Central and Eastern Europe, both of which are subtitled "A Pilgrim's Travel Guide." I have often wished for as comprehensive a guide to the United States. Lo and behold, here comes The Faithful Traveler to fill that need, beginning in Philadelphia.
I am not much for watching travel DVDs, unless they are those that Michael Palin has done with clever commentary and an interesting theme (such as traveling around the world in 80 days). However, Diana von Glahn sent me a review copy of this DVD so I dutifully sat down to watch it, expecting to sample a bit and skip around before quitting. Unexpectedly I liked it so much that I watched the entire thing, including extras, and then told Tom he will have to watch. (He is much less resistant to this sort of thing than I am.)
First of all, Diana's screen presence is charming. She is serious about the subject yet there is always the hint of an underlying merriment that is most inviting.
Secondly, I didn't expect this to be a partial Catholic history class with plenty of fascinating information about the origin of the Miraculous Medal as well as about the Philadelphia shrine. Additionally, in order to make sure that viewers understand the concepts well, there is are brief explanations of Catholic concepts along the way (such as why Catholics venerate Mary or that the medal is not superstitiously viewed "as a good luck charm"). This means that the DVDs can also be passed on to nonCatholics who might have questions or be interested in the shrine. A nice touch.
The music is contemporary Christian but is not some of the sappy, overly sentimental stuff that I shrink from hearing. It is either upbeat or heartfelt, but good.
My only critiques would be that the information on the extras page is not large enough to read easily and that the word "amazing" gets a bit overused. However, as a podcast who has found that her favorite "make a noise while thinking of what to say next" word is "and" I can understand this tendency."
Domenico Bettinelli, Jr., of the blog Bettnet.com, reviewed the DVD:
“In the breezy, hip style of travel shows on PBS and the Travel Channel, a new Catholic DVD series, The Faithful Traveler, takes you on a visit to Catholic shrines and places of pilgrimage. Well, so far they take you to the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Philadelphia, but they promise to introduce us to more. (They also have video about St. Katharine Drexel Shrine and the National Shrines of St. Rita of Cascia, also in the Philly area, in the works.)
The show is edited, written, and hosted by Diana von Glahn—an attractive and engaging young woman—and directed and shot by her husband David. (I’d compliment him too, but he never appears on-screen.) With Diana’s youth and energy complemented by a soundtrack of both contemporary Catholic music and classic chant, the DVD is an interesting and engaging introduction to a treasure of devotion and Catholic art in our own backyard. In fact, the United States is overflowing with such shrines and pilgrimage sites. Here in the Archdiocese of Boston, there’s at least a half-dozen, probably more, all beautiful locations where you can pray in peace and experience natural and man-made beauty.
I’ve seen guidebooks to America’s Catholic holy places, but a video is much more interesting, because it reveals a lot more than a couple of pages and tiny photos in a book. And it would only be good for more Catholics to discover shrines and visit them.
For the moment, if you’re in Philadelphia, plan to visit, or just want to learn more about some Catholic shrines and devotions (great for families!), check our their site and DVDs.You’ll find that they’re not just travelogues because they take the time to inform you of the saints and devotions behind the shrines themselves.
Incidentally, a nice feature of their site is the “Locations” page, an interactive map of the US that gives you links and information about Catholic shrines throughout the country. Nice.”
August 4: This week we heard from Catholic authors Joseph Pearce, Kevin J. Wright, and Maureen Wittman:
"David and Diana von Glahn allow armchair travellers like myself to enjoy the many shrines and treasures of Holy Mother Church without leaving the santuary of our own homes. Watching their video guide of Philadelphia's Miraculous Medal Shrine was not only hugely enjoyable and educational, it allowed me to virtually be there as a real pilgrim. Being a virtual pilgrim might not be as good as being there in person but it's the next best thing."
—Joseph Pearce is the author of such books as The Quest for Shakespeare, Literary Giants, Literary Catholics, and Tolkien: Man and Myth, and Co-Editor of the St. Austin Review and the Editor-in-Chief of Sapientia Press.
“Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed the stunning and engaging video of The Faithful Traveler’s Philadelphia’s Miraculous Medal Shrine. The travel show is a clear example of how Christian travel is ministry at its core. The timing of the video release also couldn’t be any better, as the World Religious Travel Association has declared 2009 as The Year of Faith Tourism.”
—Kevin J. Wright is President of the World Religious Travel Association, and author of Catholic travel books, including The Christian Travel Planner, Europe's Monastery and Convent Guesthouses, and Catholic Shrines of Western Europe: A Pilgrim's Travel Guide .
Maureen Wittman [link], wonder-mom and author of such beloved books on homeschooling as A Catholic Homeschool Treasury, The Catholic Homeschool Companion and For the Love of Literature, reviewed our show on her blog. She says:
"I have seven children who range in age from 6 to 18. Last night, everyone was looking forward to watching a movie together. As they all sat down with their popcorn, I announced I wanted to watch The Faithful Traveler first. I admit it -- there were some audible moans. But Mom rules here and if they wanted the movie, they were going to get some religion first!
Well, it turned out they loved The Faithful Traveler! In fact, the planned movie got put off another 1/2 hour because the kids insisted on watching all the DVD extras. Mom and Dad moaned this time, but it turned out we enjoyed them too.
This is not your typical stuffy religious documentary. The camera work is very good and Diana von Glahn does a great job hosting. She is professional yet hip. Also, my older children complimented the music. They especially liked the theme song by Sarah Bauer, All Access, which they already knew.
All in all, it was a fun DVD. Yes, it's true, you can have fun visiting shrines and old churches. Done well, you come out thinking, "Wow, God is so cool. That was really neat."
The Faithful Traveler took us to the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, taught us some new things about the saints and about Philadelphia, and we had an enjoyable family hour. I'm looking forward to future releases!"
August 3: Diana's interview with Bob Krebs of the Diocese of Wilmington's Catholic Forum, the longest-running Catholic radio program in the United States - maybe even the world (
July 10: Diana was interviewed by Elizabeth Station for a Student Spotlight article at the University of Notre Dame Law School. The article can be found here. I'm posting it below as well.
"Diana von Glahn’s career has been something of a pilgrimage. After earning her law degree from Notre Dame in 1996, she returned to her native California and worked briefly for a law firm there. Drawn to more creative pursuits, she moved to New York City, where she landed the first of several jobs in publishing.
Now based in suburban Philadelphia, von Glahn writes, produces, and hosts The Faithful Traveler, a travel show with a Catholic focus. The program explores the art, architecture, history and doctrine behind religious shrines and places of pilgrimage throughout the United States. Creating it, she has found a professional and spiritual home.
“The impetus for the show came from Notre Dame,” says von Glahn, whose law school years coincided with a strong desire to explore her Catholic faith more deeply. She visited churches and shrines while studying on the Law School’s London Program, which allows second-year students to take courses in U.S., international, and comparative law abroad during a full academic year abroad. “It was a way to experience more of the world and to do so while I was studying law,” she says.
The idea for The Faithful Traveler came to von Glahn in 2003, when she and her husband-to-be, David, began planning an itinerary for their honeymoon in Europe. The couple wanted to visit Catholic religious sights in France, but could find little information to guide their travels. “We thought, if nobody else has done this and we’re looking for it, then why don’t we just create it ourselves?” she says.
Five years later, von Glahn is producing a travel show designed to fit the niche. This summer the first Faithful Traveler DVD was released, focusing on the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Philadelphia. Two others will follow in the fall. Von Glahn is pitching the program to the Travel Channel, PBS and the Eternal Word Television Network—and she’s marketing the DVDs on the Internet and to Catholic schools, dioceses, and bookstores.
While she has blazed a different trail, von Glahn believes that law school prepared her for the work she’s chosen. “My legal education and the time at Notre Dame taught me a lot,” she says. Presentation skills that she learned in trial advocacy class make her persuasive in front of the camera, she says, and her business law training helps her negotiate contracts and legal permissions with confidence.
“Life is never easy, no matter what path you choose—whether it’s the safe path or the difficult and exciting path,” she says. “I have never been one to shy away from a challenge. I’ve always followed my heart … and it’s always made me happy.”
Also, a fantastically beautiful blog, Ars Catholica, devoted to exploring and promoting great Catholic art, posted a little note about us. We're thrilled and honored to be included!
And The Faithful Traveler was mentioned on the Travel & Tourism Guide for Phillyburbs.com.
July 8: Diana was interviewed by Gary and Michelle Gersin on their show, Catholic Mornings on Walking on Water Radio, 1360 AM in Conneaut, Ohio. Listen to the interview here.
Gary liked our DVD so much, he sent us the most amazing letter:
"Diana and David took us both on a journey that made us feel as if we were actually at the Miraculous Medal Shrine. The camera work captured the beauty of the shrine as well as all the beautiful holy reminders.
The Catholic Church in the USA has never been so well represented as it is in this DVD presentation; it tells the history and traditions of the Church without having to travel to Paris.
We highly recommend this DVD for anyone interested in taking a pilgrimage or in researching the history of The Miraculous Medal.
Diana and David have definitely helped today's Catholic media to reach another level of quality.
God bless you Three ;-)* and know that you and your apostolate will remain in our prayers."
In Both Hearts,
Gary and Michelle Gersin
Catholic Mornings
WalKing on Water Radio 1360
*Gary and Michelle are referring to my comment that the Holy Spirit is part of our production team!
July 2: Kevin Wright, President of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) posted information about our site on his blog, Christian Tourism News. The WRTA is a fantastic resource for those seeking people in the quickly growing Religious Tourism industry. Did you know that 2009 is The Year of Faith Tourism? What perfect timing!! Be sure to check out the site!
Mark Shea, of Catholic and Enjoying It! was kind enough to post our press release, announcing the release of our first DVD. link.
Read the article written about The Faithful Traveler in The Bulletin, Philadelphia’s Family Newspaper.
July 1: Diana appeared once again on Bill Donaghy's weekly Catholic radio show, The Heart of Things, hosted by In His Sign Network.
We'll post the interview here as soon as we can!
The Heart of Things can be heard every Wednesday on station WTMR 800 AM in the Philadelphia/New Jersey/Delaware area or online at www.catholicinternetradio.com.
June 24: the fabulous blogger and author Amy Welborn of Charlotte was Both, posted a bit about us on her blog. I can't tell you what an honor that was!! Check it out here. And if you're not familiar with Amy's blog (quelle domage!), you must check it out. She is simply amazing.
We were also included in the beautiful blog, Crossed the Tiber. The author of the blog says, "One of the most fun things about being a new Catholic is discovering all the treasures the Church has for us." We couldn't agree more!!
June 23: Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur of the Spiritual Woman blog and website mentioned us on her lovely blog.
"One of the most fun things about being a new Catholic is discovering all the treasures the Church has for us. Visiting shrines and Churches has been a great source of joy for Prodigal Daughter and I. Here's a site where you can learn the how to's and where to's of "shrine hopping." We live in eastern PA and there is an abundance of these sites that are fairly close. You could spend an entire day in Philadelphia and not even get to half of them! I was in Philadelphia for 4 years during my internal medicine residency in the late 80's and I had no idea. I honestly can't even remember seeing a Catholic Church in Philly during those years!?"
April 24,2007: Bill Donaghy interviewed Diana about The Faithful Traveler on his weekly Catholic radio show, The Heart of Things, hosted by In His Sign Network. Listen to the interview here: Part 1; Part 2.
The Heart of Things can be heard every Wednesday on station WTMR 800 AM in the Philadelphia/New Jersey/Delaware area or online at www.catholicinternetradio.com.
And don’t miss Bill’s blog and podcasts, which you can subscribe to on iTunes or here.
"I found [The Faithful Traveler] to be an engrossing and well-produced
introduction to the history of the devotion to the Miraculous Medal. I
believe that there is a market for this kind of catechetical tool, as
well as a real need for Catholics to become more familiar with the
treasures of their faith. Thank you for your effort. I pray that you
will be able to continue to teach via the electronic media. What a
wonderful example you are of the Second Vatican Council's call to the
laity to bring Christ to the world by means of the arts. I will pray
for the success of your apostolate."
—Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan
Bishop of Colorado Springs
"Congratulations on a super, creative, and well done job. Truly, I sat back, enjoyed the show and found it to be very uplifting. [The Faithful Traveler] is something needed today for Catholics to be enriched in the rich spiritual tradition of our faith as well as for non-Catholics who want to learn about it. The production is very well integrated—giving historical background of the site visited and the lives of the saints and the Catholic traditions connected with the devotion to that particular saint. Diana provides the viewer with insights into the religious communities represented, the art and symbols in the Church and gives a brief review of any important Church teachings connected with the pilgrimage site, such as the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
[The Faithful Traveler] has done a wonderful job of providing Catholic viewers with a
way to recognize the precious value of so many sites of pilgrimage
around the country/world, and to be strengthened in those symbols of
our faith that give meaning to our living of it day by day. I think it
would be good for adults as well as for Catholic high school students.
Diana as a "tour guide" does a fantastic job. She is very poised,
joyful, and gives witness to her own love for our faith. Ever onward!
As St. Paul would say."
—Sister Carmen Christi, F.S.P.
Vocations Director, Daughters of St. Paul
"North American homes are often capable of receiving more than a
hundred television channels. Secular producers have given us a menu of
entertaining programs, many of which are not fit for faithful Catholic
families. Cable and satellite travel shows can provide us with vivid
footage of destinations which, of themselves, are beautiful
representation of Creation, but are unfortunately marred by the
impurity and materialism so common in our secular world.
Diana von Glahn's The Faithful Traveler is the Catholic answer to this
problem. Taking the advice of the pilot's DVD cover, I grabbed a seat,
got comfortable, and prepared to be inspired. For the next twenty
minutes, Diana guided me on a tour of the majesty and history of
Philadelphia's Miraculous Medal Shrine. I was indeed inspired.
Diana's presentation was superbly entertaining and informative without
being lofty or overly academic. This show left me with a deeper
yearning to understand some of the mystery of our Faith as well as an
appreciation for the grace and sacrifice necessary to do God's work.
It is my hope that Catholic families everywhere will soon have the
opportunity to experience this wonderful and necessary alternative to
secular travel programs."
—Jim Bello, Author of the Catholic novel One Baby Rose
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