DIGITAL MUSIC

HITTING A HIGH NOTE

Music Club raising the bar for live performances on campus

CREATIVE WRITING

Prof. Jauregui Eccles Signs Two-Book Deal with Grand Central Publishing

Sing the Night will be released in February 2026

Bringing Kolbe's Courage to the Big Screen

Two alumnae share their experiences on the set of Triumph of the Heart in Poland

Written and directed by Anthony D’Ambrosio, Triumph of the Heart released in theaters this fall, moving audiences with its powerful portrayal of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s final days. Behind the haunting beauty of the film lies the dedication of an international crew, including two graduates of JPCatholic.

For Katerina Gerlach ‘22 and Angelika Sowa ‘23, Triumph of the Heart was more than just another credit. It was a labor of love to spread the story of the Franciscan friar who laid his life down at Auschwitz. A Polish native, Sowa grew up just hours from where Kolbe was martyred. She and Gerlach both share a special devotion to the Polish saints Kolbe and Pope John Paul II.

Just months after graduation—and being Director of Photography on JPCatholic’s student-crewed feature No Reception—Sowa was connected to D’Ambrosio’s team through Prof. George Simon. As a Production Assistant in Poland, she was tasked with managing pre-production logistics to ensure a seamless start to the indie feature. She later continued on the project as an Editor, helping to shape the film’s narrative, and currently serves as Marketing Manager, promoting the film’s inspiring message to a global audience.

Gerlach, who has already worked on 14 independent features since graduation, was brought on to the project mid-production in fall 2023. She began as Script Supervisor, but was quickly promoted to Second Assistant Director. And when a crew member’s departure created a gap, Gerlach stepped up to become First Assistant Director, a demanding role that oversees the day-to-day operations on set—and one that she had previously filled for JPCatholic’s feature O, Brawling Love! She later worked as Post-Production Coordinator, facilitating communication between the director and the editors, colorists, foley artists, and composer.

Much of the film was shot in a 19th-century prison in Piotrków Trybunalski, repurposed to resemble Auschwitz. “It was super cold on set,” Sowa recalled, “but it worked perfectly for the world we were building.” Despite the bleak environment, both women were struck by the camaraderie of the team. The international crew was composed of many who were even there as volunteers. “It was incredible to see how many people Anthony could rally around this story,” Gerlach said. “Many weren’t even Catholic, yet they were drawn to it.”

Working on an international indie feature comes with many challenges, especially on a production budget of $355k. Their training at JPCatholic, they say, gave them the confidence to meet those demands. “By the time I graduated, I’d worked on 85 short films,” said Gerlach. “That hands-on practice is how I really learned the roles of Script Supervisor and AD.”

Having worked with D’Ambrosio on the marketing and administrative side, Sowa pointed to the business curriculum: “I feel like me and my classmates really had production skills nailed, especially because of experiences like the Feature Film Program. But now I understand why JPCatholic put so much focus on marketing and entrepreneurship. Anthony is a great entrepreneur, which can be rare among directors, and that combination is why this film exists.”

Gerlach also expressed her admiration for D’Ambrosio’s leadership. “He had a clear artistic vision, which made my job as AD so much easier,” she explained. “And every morning, he’d gather the actors for meditation and prayer, helping them get in the mindset for the day. It made a huge difference for the tone and morale on set.”

Triumph of the Heart premiered in Poland on August 13th, followed by the U.S. premiere in Dallas on Sep. 8th. Through a grassroots effort, D’Ambrosio’s company Sherwood Fellows got the film into over 650 screens in the U.S. in September. Now, they are licensing the film for community screenings, encouraging parishes and schools to host events. Plans for distribution on streaming will follow in November.

Why should people see this film? "There’s so much negativity in the world right now,” said Gerlach. “And in many ways this film is dark, but there is a clear through-line of hope. You don’t often leave movies these days with that feeling.”

"It’s captivating because it shows St. Maximilian Kolbe as a real person,” added Sowa. “He wasn’t perfect—no saint is—but the film doesn’t shy away from the gritty reality of evil and the heroic choices that ordinary people can make. This story is beautiful for the soul and the eye, almost like a Caravaggio painting brought to life."

Learn how you can see the film at triumphoftheheart.com

THEOLOGY

California Augustinian Students in Formation Enroll at JPCatholic

The Augustinians are a mendicant religious order founded in the 13th century, dedicated to community life, preaching, and service. Today they have approximately 2,500 priests and friars worldwide—including Pope Leo XIV, the first Augustinian pope. The Province of Saint Augustine in California is based in San Diego, and has been an active presence in the diocese since the 1920s, when they established St. Augustine High School and began ministry at St. Patrick’s parish. Their ministry at both has continued through today, and nine fully professed Augustinian friars currently serve within the diocese.

“JPCatholic provides the intellectual formation, close-knit community, and Christ-centered environment that I’m seeking as I continue my Augustinian formation,” said Figueroa. “Studying Theology and Philosophy here is the perfect fit,” said Schloegel. “JPCatholic is fueled by the sacramental life and committed to the teachings of Christ and the Church. I can’t think of a better place to grow in faith and intellect.”

Since 2009, JPCatholic has also been the destination for Chaldean Catholic seminarians to complete their undergraduate degree, resulting in eight alumni who are now Chaldean priests. These include Fr. Ankido Sipo, BS ’12, MA ’15, who now teaches theology and philosophy at JPCatholic, and Fr. Simon Esshaki, BS ’12, MA ’15, who expands his evangelization work beyond the parish to TikTok, where he has attracted over 500k followers.