Fr. Joshua McCarty - Lolek Productions

I am a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Owensboro. I was ordained to the priesthood in 2009 and I am currently serving as the Associate Pastor at Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro, Kentucky. I am the oldest of five children. My parents live in Southern Indiana. 

While serving on a NET Ministries team (National Evangelization Team)  I traveled through several states with my team going into parishes to work with young people, challenging them to love their Catholic faith. We were witnesses to the faith by leading many retreats all across the country. I had plans and dreams for my life already. I always wanted to have a beautiful wife, a good job, a big house and a riding lawn mower. But along the way I heard people tell me that I had the qualities that would make a good priest. Though it wasn't something I'd thought of much, I eventually discerned that God might be calling me to the priesthood. After NET I studied philosophy at Vincennes University, for two years, and Ave Maria, for three years.  I spent two years at the Ave Maria campus in Ypsilanti, Michigan and then moved to Florida for the inaugural year of Ave Maria University at the temporary campus in Naples, Florida.  After affiliating with the Diocese of Owensboro, I went to study theology at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. Ultimately, I finished my studies and was ordained. 

Evangelization and sharing the love of the Gospel is the mission of a priest. I noticed that there was not a strong presence of good and beautiful Catholic media that could reach out to people.  In this digital and high tech media world there should certainly be a more creative, strong and dynamic communication of the Gospel. That is the reason for starting Lolek Productions. It is a vehicle for me and other creative individuals to produce beautiful and inspiring media works that touch people with the love of God within the human condition. As Saint John Paul II  reminded us, we are all called to evangelize wherever we find ourselves. "Lolek" is his boyhood nickname, so our company was named after him. He is definitely a hero of mine and he has inspired us to carry on the mission of living and sharing the Gospel. 

I love what I do. I love being a priest and ministering to the people. The favorite part of my work with Lolek Productions is hearing the real life stories of how God is truly working and present in people's lives and being able to share their stories with others by way of powerful and inspiring videos. When I hear the feedback from what people are saying about our work, I am amazed and humbled at how God is present in the midst of it all. That's what keeps me going and keeps me motivated to keep up the work we are doing and grow it in whatever ways we need to in order to reach more people. 

Because I am a priest first and foremost and the Associate Pastor at a thriving and busy parish, the time I spend working with Lolek Productions is limited. I try to devote one day a week to production work, but it really just depends on what time I can be available to do it. It is a passion for me in more ways than one. Evangelization is my vocation, but I also love all things digital. I even call myself a nerd. So the two go hand in hand. God has blessed me with being a priest, but by allowing the work with Lolek Productions, I am also able to keep my creative juices flowing and use the gifts and talents He has given me in other ways that I enjoy. I do not work alone. I have a lot of people who help me with Lolek, including a talented board of Directors, generous benefactors, and a small number of passionate volunteers who help make it all possible.  I am so thankful for all that they do. 

I am most proud of what I am working on currently, the icon Project. When it goes national, then it will have the potential to reach more people, to evangelize and share the love of God. The more people we reach, the more people can know, love and serve the Lord. 

Please check out our work at lolekproductions.com