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Deo Gratias Films
Deo Gratias Films

Mother Overbrook

A Feature Length Documentary

Preserving the Legacy and introducing the future of

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary

Donate Now

Mother Overbrook is an independent project, separate from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary but inspired by the legacy of priestly formation.

Mother Overbrook

A Feature Length Documentary

Preserving The Legacy and introducing The Future of

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary

Donate Now

Mother Overbrook is an independent project, separate from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary but inspired by the legacy of priestly formation.

If we don’t tell the story

who will?

The Story

Mother Overbrook

For over 150 years, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary has been situated on a beautiful campus in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

The seminary has come to consist of countless treasures that have inspired innumerable vocations.

This place is a testament to generations of faithful Catholics who contributed to the Patrimony of the Church by donating to its construction and ongoing operations.

This documentary from Deo Gratias Films will tell the story of Mother Overbrook. 

Patrimony

Mother Overbrook

For over 150 years, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary has been situated on a beautiful campus in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

The seminary has come to consist of countless treasures that have inspired innumerable vocations.

This place is a testament to generations of faithful Catholics who contributed to the Patrimony of the Church by donating to its construction and ongoing operations.

Patrimony

Patrimony

Popes & Saints

Popes and saints have visited St. Charles Borromeo Seminary because of its significance.

Sacred Ground

This place is a memorial to faithful Catholics who have contributed to the Patrimony of the Church.
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Chapels
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Altars
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Works of Art
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Stained Glass Windows
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Papal Visits
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Canonized Saints
An Urgent Need

Patrimony

Popes & Saints

Popes and saints have visited St. Charles Borromeo Seminary because of its significance.
0
Papal Visits
0
Canonized Saints

Sacred Ground

This place is a memorial to faithful Catholics who have contributed to the Patrimony of the Church.
0
Chapels
0
Altars
0
Works of Art
0
Stained Glass Windows
An Urgent Need

An Urgent Need

This year begins the last academic year that Seminarians will be on the property of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The move has already begun. The stained glass windows from Immaculate Conception Chapel were removed in January. Seminarians to come will never experience the beauty, peace, and transcendence of Mother Overbrook. We need your help to carry this legacy into the next generation.
It is with great joy and enthusiasm that St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, PA, approves your endeavor to “capture” our history in the form of a full-length documentary. This project is something that we had hoped for, and we are grateful for your Spirit -filled initiative.
Rev. Keith ChylinskiRector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Joyful Films are gifted storytellers and have helped Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary craft video productions that allow our mission to truly resonate in a special way with our audiences. We can count on them to get it right while always presenting the Seminary in an inspiring way.
Bishop Timothy SeniorBishop of Harrisburg
I have come to realize what a treasure we have in St. Charles Seminary…I heartily endorse the making of the documentary “Mother Overbrook” to preserve our legacy. May God bless you in this noble and worthwhile effort.
Bishop Joseph CoffeyAuxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
…we need to preserve the history, and memories of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary for future generations. We owe this to them. Thank you for your efforts to capture and preserve the legacy of generations of faithful Catholics…
Monsignor Francis BeachParochial Administrator, Saint Matthias Parish, Bala Cynwyd
...it would not be right simply to leave the current site without taking stock of the amazing story which those walls and statues can tell.
Rev. Eric BaneckerPastor St. Francis De Sales Parish
…I pray for the success of your labors, so that future generations may be inspired to follow in the path of so many others who left the halls of St. Charles to serve God and His Church, carrying with them all that they learned at Mother Overbrook!
Rev. Matthew BrodyPresident, St. Charles Seminary Priest Alumni Association
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Our Sponsors
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An Urgent Need

This year begins the last academic year that Seminarians will be on the property of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The move has already begun. The stained glass windows from Immaculate Conception Chapel were removed in January. Seminarians to come will never experience the beauty, peace, and transcendence of Mother Overbrook. We need your help to carry this legacy into the next generation.
Legacy

Endorsements

Donate

Contribute to the legacy of Mother Overbrook.

Deo Gratias Films, working with the International Institute for Culture will preserve the legacy of Mother Overbrook for the next generation of Catholics.  Your tax-deductible donation can be made here.

GoFund.me
Paypal

Deo Sanctissimo et Summo Society
$50,000 or more

“To God Most Holy and Supreme” is the Latin inscription on the first cornerstone laid in Overbrook, PA. It was reported that, “On April 4, 1866, Pius IX, by Divine Providence being Pope and governing the Universal Church, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States; Andrew G. Curtin, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania: Peace being restored after Civil War, Right Reverend James Frederick, fifth Bishop of Philadelphia, laid this cornerstone of The Church and Ecclesiastical Seminary of Saint Charles Borromeo, in the presence of a large and enthusiastic concourse of Clergy and Laity.”

Today, donors in this giving level, will lay the cornerstone in preserving this great legacy for generations to come.

Immaculate Conception Society
$25,000 or more

Immaculate Conception Chapel is the name given to the first Chapel at the heart of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. This title will also be the name of the new Chapel in Lower Gwynedd, PA. Donors in this category will give life to future Priests through their generosity. As Archbishop Ryan is quoted to say, “The Chapel is the heart of the Seminary giving life blood to future priests.”

Donors at this level will help support men discerning their call to the priesthood by investing in Mother Overbrook. Proceeds from this documentary will support priestly vocations. Future generations of seminarians will pray the Divine Office and celebrate Mass in the new Immaculate Conception Chapel.

St. Charles Borromeo Society
$10,000 or more

Saint Charles Borromeo, the patron of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, was made a Cardinal of the Church at the age of 22. Like Saint Charles himself, Donors at this level will be pioneers and create a foundation for young men to answer this call in the future while also being grounded in the rich past of those who came before us.

St. John Vianney Society
$5,000 or more

St. John Vianney did not receive a strong education as a child and therefore struggled in the seminary. Nevertheless, he persevered and went on to become one the most beloved priests in all of France. He was canonized in 1927 and is the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Proceeds from Mother Overbrook will help young men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

Cardinal Dougherty Society
$2,500 or more

The annual Seminary appeal soared to unprecedented heights under the thoughtful watch of Cardinal Dougherty, who has been awarded the title, the second founder of Overbrook. Having envisioned the magnificent college Seminary building and brought it to life, donors in this category will be members of a society under his name. As he had a watchful eye over the construction; we ask for his prayers for the success of this project.

Archbishop Wood Society
$1,000 or more

Cardinal Krol said, “With great courage and foresight, Archbishop Wood acquired the beautiful and spacious Overbrook site, on which he erected the building of 1871.” Those who give to this level will have great courage and foresight of cementing this legacy into the hearts of generations to come.

Archbishop Prendergast Society
up to $999

“The Seminary stands as a monument to the faith and love of the many who have passed away . .. to us and to those who come after us, a testimony also to our faith and love, as it will likewise be a pledge of everlasting recompense.” -Archbishop Prendergast Letter on Seminary Collection, 1912

Our Sponsors

God is Good! We want to thank the generosity of our sponsors who are making this project possible. Foundations, corporations and individuals have heard the call and have joined our cause to preserve the legacy of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. Thank you for your kind and generous support!

Deo Sanctissimo et Summo Society

EM_Logo

Immaculate Conception Society

LCJG_Logo-2

St. Charles Borromeo Society

ACHS_Logo-3

St. John Vianney Society

AM_Logo

Cardinal Dougherty Society

IIC_Logo

Archbishop Wood Society Society

Remedium_Logo

Archbishop Prendergast Society

  • Rev. Msgr James D. Beisel
  • Andrew J. Golias
  • Rev. Richard J. Maisano
  • Rev. Richaed T. Bolger
  • Rev. Msgr. Angelo R. Citino
  • Rev. James C. Sherlock
  • Am Catholic Historical Society
  • Rev Daniel J. Arechabala
  • Rev. Edward P. Kuczynski
  • Rev. Joseph J. Quindlen
  • Mrs. Kathy Witzcak
  • Rev Msgr. David H. Benz
  • Fr. Joseph J. Kelley
  • Leonard N. Peterson
  • Msgr. Joseph A. Tracy
The Legacy

Preserve the Legacy

With your help, we will produce a powerful, feature-length documentary that captures the significance of the seminary in Wynnewood and cements her beauty into the hearts of those who will never experience our beloved “Mother Overbrook.”
View Trailer

Preserve The Legacy

With your help, we will produce a powerful, feature-length documentary that captures the significance of the seminary in Wynnewood and cements her beauty into the hearts of those who will never experience our beloved “Mother Overbrook.”
Legacy

Our Beloved
Mother Overbrook

Preserve the Legacy • ground us in the past • build our future • Inspire Future Generations

Our Beloved
Mother Overbrook

About Deo Gratias Films

Deo Gratias Films is a joint venture between Joyful Films and Remedium Advertising.  Deo Gratias Films is working in conjunction with the International Institute for Culture to create this documentary aimed at preserving the legacy of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.