Experience the trials of one of the world’s most beloved saints

The Augustine Institute presents new audio drama on the patron saint of Ireland

Saint Patrick is one of the most popular saints in the history of the Catholic Church. His remarkable life is now being told in The Trials of Saint Patrick, an eight-part audio dramatization produced by Augustine Institute Radio Theatre (AIR Theatre) about his holiness and dedication to the people of Ireland, who made him a beloved bishop.

[tweet "New audio drama on #StPatrick, patron saint of Ireland, from @Augustine_Inst"]

The audio episodes feature an all-star cast, led by John Rhys-Davies, who plays the elder Patrick, and Seán O’Meallaigh, who plays the younger Patrick. Rhys-Davies is best known for his roles in blockbuster hits, such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “The Lord of the Rings Tribology”: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” O’Meallaigh has starred in “Viking” and “Love is a Sting.”

The drama is based on the history and writings of Patrick himself. The son of a Roman official, Patrick is kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland. Six years later he escapes, but God sends him on an unexpected mission back to his captors where he battles pagan priests, powerful warlords and demonic forces to win the souls of the people who enslaved him. It’s an epic story of one man’s spiritual odyssey through hardship and loss, mercy and forgiveness.

https://youtu.be/LDJHxDyeFd0

'The Trials of St. Patrick' to be introduced to New York

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day and in the city of the world famous St. Patrick’s Day parade, the event will feature Dr. Tim Gray, president of the Augustine Institute, and Paul McCusker, director of content creation for the Augustine Institute and writer/director of The Trials of Saint Patrick.  Promo clips of both Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi and The Trials of Saint Patrick will be shown as well as brief presentation on The Story of AIR Theatre, a cutting-edge initiative designed to provide audio dramas that are “sound entertainment” for the culture.

Gray and McCusker will discuss the goals and purpose of AIR Theatre, and take questions from the audience. Gray will also discuss the future of AIR Theatre, including an overview of upcoming titles/status of those titles (St. Cecilia and Quo Vadis).

WHO – The presenters will be Dr. Tim Gray, president of the Augustine Institute and a nationally renowned Bible scholar, author and Catholic speaker, and Paul McCusker, director of content creation for the Augustine Institute.

As the president of the Augustine Institute, Gray has greatly advanced the New Evangelization, as well as the renewal of Catholic education through graduate studies in scripture, theology and the New Evangelization. Gray is the author of Peter: Keys to Following Jesus, Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina, Mission of the Messiah and many other works. He also is the executive director of The Trials of Saint Patrick.

McCusker is an American writer and producer who’s best known as the Peabody Award-winning writer and director of the audio drama Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom, along with the multiple award-winning audio dramatizations of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis At War; the classics A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and Les Miserables; and original works like The Father Gilbert Mysteries and The Luke Reports. He now serves as director of content creation for the Augustine Institute.

WHEN – 6 p.m. ET Friday, March 17, 2017.

WHERE – The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture: 18 Bleecker Street, New York, New York 10012.

About AIR Theatre: AIR Theatre provides audio dramas that bring great stories to life, featuring dozens of award-winning actors and movie-like sound effects and music. It also produced Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi, a 10-part audio drama about the astonishing life of St. Francis of Assisi, the fun-loving son of wealth and privilege who gave up everything for the sake of Christ. AIR Theatre is a program designed by the Augustine Institute to provide high quality audio dramas for the entire family. It features great stories that come to life, dozens of award-winning actors and movie-like sound effects and music. It’s “sound entertainment” that will delight and surprise you, whether you’re in the car or at home.