“Humanity in every age, and even today, looks to works of art to shed light upon its path and its destiny.” –Pope Saint John Paul II

Goodness Reigns came to life in 2009 by the grace of God and the help of many good people. The teachings of the Catholic Church shared through the words of Saint John Paul the Great and Cardinal John P. Foley (former president for 23 years of the Pontifical Council of Social Communications under then Pope John Paul II) inspired GR’s mission while the generosity of a great woman of faith provided the seed money to bring it to life.

Share the Story Short Film Contests & WYD FIlm Festivals

Understanding the power of media and wishing to draw people into producing and consuming uplifting media, Goodness Reigns began orchestrating international short film contests that quickly became tied to World Youth Day. Open to all, Goodness Reigns focuses on youth and young adults who are drenched daily in media, and challenges them to use this technology as a force for what is true, good and beautiful.

Following its first successful international short film contest launched in 2009 with the help of those at what is now ODB FIlms, GR was able to invite winning filmmakers to present their films at the 2011 World Youth Day Film Festival in Madrid, Spain. Goodness Reigns has since orchestrated and hosted contests and film festivals at subsequent WYDs in Rio de Janeiro (2013), Krakow (2016) and Panama City, Panama (2019), primarily supported by grants through Our Sunday Visitor.

Growing the Good Life

As Goodness Reigns came into existence in 2009, the hope to develop an outreach that would not just chronicle “do-gooders” but would also tangibly support goodness in action emerged and became known as Growing the Good Life. For years, the concept remained just that–words with no life to it–until the summer of 2020.

A friendship dating back to GR’s first WYD contest in 2011 provided a direction and impetus. Then a high school student, Sarah O’Connell helped Shamshad Masih of Pakistan submit a film about Shamshad’s free clinic providing medications and blankets to anyone in need following a devastating flood in the region. Shamshad received GR’s first “Good Samaritan in Media Award.”

Goodness Reigns remained in touch with his family, and together in 2020, we started an outreach that has delivered food, clothing, debt relief and fresh water to those in need on the fringes of Faisalabad, Pakistan. GGL now has a distinct purpose and sojourners to bring it to life!