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“Stu failed in so many ways with his life,” says Fr. Bart Tolleson, the author of That Was Father Stu: A Memoir of My Priestly Brother and Friend, “… But what he did not fail at was being a priest of Jesus Christ. That he got right, but it cost him everything that pride held in him.”
It is not every day that a major studio film features a Catholic priest in a sympathetic role and portrayed in a positive light. And it is even less often that he is the main character of the movie.
Father Stuart Long was no ordinary priest, however, and his was no ordinary life. Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, and others were inspired to make a film about his life (which is now available in an edited PG-13 version) called Father Stu: Reborn.
Fr. Stu’s dear and devoted friend, Fr. Bart Tolleson, is the author of That Was Father Stu: A Memoir of My Priestly Brother and Friend (Ignatius Press, 2023). Both men were priests of the Diocese of Helena in western Montana, and were ordained together. The book recounts the two priests’ remarkable friendship, as well as the profound influence Fr. Stu had on all those around him.
Part biography, part autobiography, That Was Father Stualso serves as a great companion to the film, filling in the gaps, and of course recounting the true story (the filmmakers having taken certain liberties with the facts for the sake of cinematic appeal).
Fr. Tolleson recently spoke with Catholic World Reportabout the new book, his friendship with Fr. Stu, and the continuing impact Fr. Stu has had even after his death.
Catholic World Report: How did the book come about?
Continued below.
www.catholicworldreport.com
It is not every day that a major studio film features a Catholic priest in a sympathetic role and portrayed in a positive light. And it is even less often that he is the main character of the movie.
Father Stuart Long was no ordinary priest, however, and his was no ordinary life. Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, and others were inspired to make a film about his life (which is now available in an edited PG-13 version) called Father Stu: Reborn.
Fr. Stu’s dear and devoted friend, Fr. Bart Tolleson, is the author of That Was Father Stu: A Memoir of My Priestly Brother and Friend (Ignatius Press, 2023). Both men were priests of the Diocese of Helena in western Montana, and were ordained together. The book recounts the two priests’ remarkable friendship, as well as the profound influence Fr. Stu had on all those around him.
Part biography, part autobiography, That Was Father Stualso serves as a great companion to the film, filling in the gaps, and of course recounting the true story (the filmmakers having taken certain liberties with the facts for the sake of cinematic appeal).
Fr. Tolleson recently spoke with Catholic World Reportabout the new book, his friendship with Fr. Stu, and the continuing impact Fr. Stu has had even after his death.
Catholic World Report: How did the book come about?
Continued below.
Memoir by fellow priest and close friend tells the remarkable story of Fr. Stu
www.catholicworldreport.com
