Trideo Media

10/09/2024

I'm starting a series on YouTube with my commentary on The Rings Of Power adding some insights about the ways in which Tolkien's Catholic faith influenced his views on evil, virtue and pride.

In my first video, I discuss the recurring nature of evil and why this shouldn't discourage us. Check out the video via the link in the comments!

20/08/2024

Who Wants To Live Forever?

Last Sunday, I had a conversation with a parishioner in her nineties that deeply resonated with me. She shared the profound loneliness that comes from outliving all her family members. Her words were a powerful reminder that living a long life is both a blessing and a challenge.

The conversation brought to mind a powerful question posed in the 1986 movie 'Highlander'. The film follows Connor MacLeod, a Scottish Highlander born in the 16th century who discovers he’s immortal after surviving what should have been a fatal wound. As he lives through the centuries, he watches everyone he loves grow old and die, grappling with the weight of eternal life.

When Queen’s guitarist, Brian May, was asked to write the title song for the original movie, he created "Who Wants to Live Forever?" The song beautifully captures the heartache of eternal life, asking whether living forever on this earth is truly a gift if it means enduring the loss of everyone you hold dear.

This theme of immortality versus the value of a finite life is also explored in J.R.R. Tolkien’s tales of Beren and Lúthien, and Arwen and Aragorn. Both Lúthien and Arwen, who are immortal, choose to give up their eternal life out of love for their mortal partners. They’d rather live a brief life with the ones they love than face an eternity without them.

Gandalf tells Frodo in 'The Lord of the Rings': “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” In our fast-paced world, many of us feel the relentless pressure to be productive every moment, often leading to burnout. But are we really making the most of our time? Are we investing it in what truly matters, or are we merely ticking off tasks on someone else’s agenda?

In my latest podcast episode of 'The Walk', I share how thinking about my own mortality—though a bit scary—actually pushes me to live more intentionally and really appreciate the friendships I have. It's helped me let go of the stuff that doesn’t matter, so I can focus on what truly lasts. If you’re interested, you can listen to the episode via the link in the comments.

Thanks for reading! Let’s make the most of the time we have been given.

— Fr. Roderick Vonhögen

06/08/2024

The little boy waved his wand in my direction and solemnly declared, "Petrificus Totalus!" I knew exactly what to do: stand perfectly still. Through his plastic Harry Potter glasses, he looked triumphantly at his mother. "It works, Mom!"

His mother, dressed in a green dress with a black pointed hat, laughed and said, "You can't just enchant everyone here, that gentleman wanted to take a picture of us." She twirled her own wand apologetically and said, "You can move again."

Meanwhile, the boy's father was busy adjusting his brown fake beard and wig for the photo. "Bad hair day, Hagrid!" he muttered.

Mama McGonagall, Papa Hagrid, and little Harry Potter were part of the thousands of costumed participants at Castlefest, a delightful fantasy festival in the gardens of Keukenhof Castle in Lisse.

I've been attending these kinds of festivals for years. Just dressed as myself, with a priest's collar. "Are you really a priest, or are you cosplaying?" I'm often asked.

I've loved stories since my earliest childhood. I spent entire afternoons in the library, reading everything I could get my hands on. I dreamed of a life as an author, but heaven had other plans.

The love for stories has remained. I read an average of 100 to 150 books a year (you can find my reading list on Goodreads.com - look for 'fatherroderick'), and everything I do as a media priest revolves around stories.

How do I keep my listeners awake during the sermon on Sunday? By telling stories. Why do I enjoy working for Dutch television so much? Because I can share my stories and those of others in the programs I create. My podcasts, blogs, TikTok, and YouTube videos give me the opportunity to tell new stories all the time.

In recent weeks, I've been working hard on a project dear to me in England. I filmed a video course in London for people who want to learn how to best package their message in a story.

Because in the daily flood of information, advertisements, and entertainment that passes by on our screens every day, your message will only stand out if you can captivate people within a few seconds and then keep them engaged. And that can be learned.

How? That's what I teach my students in my course. Not as boring theory from behind my we**am, but as stories I've recorded in the streets of London, in front of the pub where Charles Dickens gathered ideas, in the gallery where Harry Potter discovers the entrance to Diagon Alley, and by the Thames where James Bond began one of his adventures in a speedboat.

If you want to help me improve the course and financially support filming more courses, I invite you to join my focus group. As a thank you for your donation, I give you access to the lessons and to my online focus group community. Follow the link in the comments to see how you can join!

28/08/2022

Join me for Mass this Sunday at 5 pm CET (11 am ET, 8 am PT). In the homily, we'll talk about The House of the Dragon and the Gospel.

13/12/2021

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we've been streaming Mass for those that can't go to church. In this video, Fr. Roderick Vonhögen takes you behind the scenes of our current studio set-up! https://youtu.be/AE8yEG67giQ

We have been streaming Mass since the beginning of the pandemic, and recently built a new chapel studio since we don't have a church from which we can stream...

01/04/2021

Join us for Mass this Holy Thursday!

Can't go to church because of the pandemic? Join Father Roderick for Mass on Holy Thursday at 8 pm CEST (2 pm EDT)! In the homily, you'll learn which Star Wa...

14/03/2021

Unable to go to church because of the pandemic? Join me for Mass this Sunday at 12.30 pm CET on Fr. Roderick Vonhögen or at 7 pm CET (noon EDT) on YouTube.com/FatherRoderick.

The homily will explain how the story of Harry Potter's Patronus can help us understand the Gospel on this Laetare Sunday :)

Want to support this initiative? Check out patreon.com/fatherroderick and join the community of monthly supporters that help me realize my mission in the media.

28/02/2021

Unable to go to church because of the pandemic? Join me for Mass this Sunday at 12.30 pm CET on Fr. Roderick Vonhögen or at 7 pm CET (1 pm EST) on YouTube.com/FatherRoderick.

The homily may contain references to Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings or other stories geeks will appreciate :)

Want to support this initiative? Check out patreon.com/fatherroderick and join the community of monthly supporters that help me realize my mission in the media.

17/02/2021

Unable to go to church because of the pandemic? Join me for Mass this Ash Wednesday at 7:00 pm CET (1:00pm EST) on YouTube.com/FatherRoderickThe homily may ...

17/02/2021

Lent and Ash Wednesday explained in one minute with Lego!Like this video and subscribe to the channel. Want to help me make more of these videos? Support me ...

14/02/2021

Who was Saint Valentine? This video explains it in 60 seconds. More of my Lego videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYMfMe9CPCZdLjNUfEILqZw

14/02/2021

Unable to go to church because of the pandemic? Join me for Mass this Sunday at 12.30 pm CET on Fr. Roderick Vonhögen or at 7 pm CET (1 pm EST) on YouTube.com/FatherRoderick.

The homily may contain references to Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings or other stories geeks will appreciate :)

Want to support this initiative? Check out patreon.com/fatherroderick and join the community of monthly supporters that help me realize my misson in the media.

07/02/2021

In this video, I explain the meaning of the healing by Jesus of Peter's mother in law with the help of the movie The Rise of Skywalker. Enjoy!Thanks for liki...

02/02/2021

On February 2, many Christians celebrate the feast of Candlemass, the Presentation of the Lord. Curious what it means? Here is a two-minute explanation with ...

31/01/2021

International Mass at 1 pm EST (7 pm CET)!

Can't go to church because of the pandemic? I will be streaming Mass at 1 pm EST/7 pm CET. With references to Lily Potter & Voldemort in the homily. Link to the stream: youtu.be/dudM_t7znRg