James B. Reuter
Encyclopedia
Reverend Father James B. Reuter of the Society of Jesus
, born May 21, 1916 is an academician, theater writer, director and producer in the Philippines whose ministry includes work in the theater, radio, print and film.
at the age of 22 and has remained in the country since then. Father Reuter has been worked in educating and training students in creative works, to be inspired by work of Christ, instilling the importance of prayers most especially the Holy Rosary, working alongside and continuing the mission of Reverend Father Patrick Peyton
, best-known as the "Rosary Priest."
Father Reuter has received awards and recognition for his work in the promotion of the Catholic Church utilizing mass media, including an award personally given to him in January, 1981, "Outstanding Service to the Catholic Church in the field of Mass Media by His Holiness Pope John Paul II
.
For his work in the field of communication, training a number of prominent leaders and artists in Philippine society who have been called, "Reuter Babies," in 1984 he was made an "honorary citizen of the Republic of the Philippines," by the Batasang Pambansa
with a unanimous vote.
, of the Congregation of Holy Cross
and the promotion of the praying of the Family Rosary
. Both Fr. Reuter and Fr. Peyton believed that the most effective means of propagating the word of Christ
, the messages of the Blessed Mary was through the use of emerging mass communication with the likes of radio, film and television.
Fr. Reuter submitted an unsolicited short drama for radio to Fr. Peyton in 1947 and it was used in the weekly broadcasts of the Family Theater
radio shows that aired on the defunct American radio network Mutual Broadcasting System
or MBS. The drama titled, "Stolen Symphony" was awarded as best drama by the Ohio
State Awards.
Father Jim returned to the Philippines in 1948 and on his own established the Family Theater Productions in the country, duplicating the efforts of Fr. Peyton in the United States, he solicited free radio air time on radio station KZPI and got named Filipino actors and actresses to volunteer their voices and acting talent to dramatize family oriented soaps and the praying of the Rosary.
Family Theater was brought into television by Fr. Reuter from 1953 until the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines in 1972.
In 1986, with democracy restored in the Philippines, Fr. Reuter returned to television with a magazine-talk show program, Family Rosary Crusade
that airs on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. Fr. Reuter served as the spiritual guide to weekly episodes of the program. Fr. Reuter would also host his daily 5-minute reflection program on the Associated Broadcasting Company
titled "Three Minutes a Day," until present.
When Fr. Peyton died in 1992, Fr. Reuter continued working for the cause of Fr. Peyton and was tireless in serving as a pivotal inspiration for the Family Rosary Crusade in the Philippines.
. Initially, the group served as the communications arm of the Provincial of the Jesuits in the country. JESCOM took part in rural evangelization with the production of radio soap serials and comics with story lines that appeal to rural communities.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, born May 21, 1916 is an academician, theater writer, director and producer in the Philippines whose ministry includes work in the theater, radio, print and film.
Profile
Father Reuter first came to the Philippines as a seminarian from the Jesuit formation house, St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, PennsylvaniaWernersville, Pennsylvania
Wernersville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,494 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Wernersville is located at .-History:...
at the age of 22 and has remained in the country since then. Father Reuter has been worked in educating and training students in creative works, to be inspired by work of Christ, instilling the importance of prayers most especially the Holy Rosary, working alongside and continuing the mission of Reverend Father Patrick Peyton
Patrick Peyton
Reverend Father Patrick Peyton, CSC was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest, devout promoter of the works & inspirations of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the founder of the post-World War II prayer movement called, "Family Rosary Crusade"...
, best-known as the "Rosary Priest."
Father Reuter has received awards and recognition for his work in the promotion of the Catholic Church utilizing mass media, including an award personally given to him in January, 1981, "Outstanding Service to the Catholic Church in the field of Mass Media by His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
For his work in the field of communication, training a number of prominent leaders and artists in Philippine society who have been called, "Reuter Babies," in 1984 he was made an "honorary citizen of the Republic of the Philippines," by the Batasang Pambansa
Batasang Pambansa
The Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...
with a unanimous vote.
Family Rosary Crusade
It was in 1947 when Fr. Reuter first heard of the rapidly growing mission of Fr. Patrick PeytonPatrick Peyton
Reverend Father Patrick Peyton, CSC was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest, devout promoter of the works & inspirations of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the founder of the post-World War II prayer movement called, "Family Rosary Crusade"...
, of the Congregation of Holy Cross
Congregation of Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
and the promotion of the praying of the Family Rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
. Both Fr. Reuter and Fr. Peyton believed that the most effective means of propagating the word of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, the messages of the Blessed Mary was through the use of emerging mass communication with the likes of radio, film and television.
Fr. Reuter submitted an unsolicited short drama for radio to Fr. Peyton in 1947 and it was used in the weekly broadcasts of the Family Theater
Family Theater
Family Theater was a dramatic anthology radio show which aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System in the United States from February 13, 1947 to September 11, 1957.-Production background:...
radio shows that aired on the defunct American radio network Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
or MBS. The drama titled, "Stolen Symphony" was awarded as best drama by the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
State Awards.
Father Jim returned to the Philippines in 1948 and on his own established the Family Theater Productions in the country, duplicating the efforts of Fr. Peyton in the United States, he solicited free radio air time on radio station KZPI and got named Filipino actors and actresses to volunteer their voices and acting talent to dramatize family oriented soaps and the praying of the Rosary.
Family Theater was brought into television by Fr. Reuter from 1953 until the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines in 1972.
In 1986, with democracy restored in the Philippines, Fr. Reuter returned to television with a magazine-talk show program, Family Rosary Crusade
Family Rosary Crusade (TV program)
The Family Rosary Crusade is a multi-media based ministry in the Philippines. In the 1950s, Reverend Father Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC came to the Philippines upon the invitation of the Dominican Fathers, or Order of Preachers, to conduct and speak on his worldwide efforts to promote the praying of...
that airs on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. Fr. Reuter served as the spiritual guide to weekly episodes of the program. Fr. Reuter would also host his daily 5-minute reflection program on the Associated Broadcasting Company
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
titled "Three Minutes a Day," until present.
When Fr. Peyton died in 1992, Fr. Reuter continued working for the cause of Fr. Peyton and was tireless in serving as a pivotal inspiration for the Family Rosary Crusade in the Philippines.
Jesuit Communications
In 1968, Reuter and fellow Jesuits Fr. Paul Brunner, SJ and Fr. Nim Gonzales founded the Philippine chapter of the Jesuits Engaged in Social Communications or JESCOMJesuit Communications Foundation
Jesuit Communications Foundation, or JesCom, is involved in the production of audiovisual materials for evangelization and education. JesCom is the media arm of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus....
. Initially, the group served as the communications arm of the Provincial of the Jesuits in the country. JESCOM took part in rural evangelization with the production of radio soap serials and comics with story lines that appeal to rural communities.