“Fisher of Men” - A Paulist Vocation Video from the 1960s

Here’s an interesting thing which a friend pointed out to me, a vocation video from the Paulist Fathers. Their Youtube account describes it as from the early 1960s, but I think it must just a bit later, since the Mass is being said (sigh...) versus populum, and on something (deep sigh...) that doesn’t look much like an altar. The vestments (like the entire video) suggest that all-too-brief period during and immediately after Vatican II, when “engagement with the modern world” actually meant “engagement with the modern world”, rather than “accommodation to the modern world.” Particularly striking is the how the life of this fictional priest is so focused on mission, on bringing the true joy of the Gospel to non-Catholics, and leading them to Christ in His Church. (Those of us who are old enough to remember 1970’s television will recognize the actor Brian Keith, who played Uncle Bill on Family Affair, as the husband who does not want his wife to be Catholic, and it is interesting to note how the order is promoting vocations by showing that Fr Bergin does not shy away from a little righteous indignation at him for this.)