Saint Paul Seminary instructor and Catholic media veteran journeys through the Holy Land with “The Chosen” actor to give believers a one-of-a-kind Holy Week experience.
Briefly:
- Jeff Cavins and Jonathan Roumie recorded reflections at actual Holy Land sites, offering an unforgettable prayer experience rooted in history and faith.
- The series marks a first for Hallow — pairing Roumie’s portrayal of Christ with Cavins’ on-location biblical teaching for a full Holy Week journey.
- For Roumie, the project also served as spiritual and professional preparation for filming future episodes of “The Chosen” later this year.
What do you get when a world-renowned Bible teacher teams up with the man who plays Jesus on TV? A spiritual journey like no other.
Jeff Cavins, a fixture of Catholic media and formation and an instructor at The Saint Paul Seminary, has joined forces with “The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie to bring the Passion of Christ to life in a new way — through the “Holy Week in the Holy Land” series on the Hallow app.
The project blends Cavins’ rich biblical insight with Roumie’s narration, all recorded on location in Israel’s most sacred sites. Viewers and listeners are transported to the very places where Jesus walked, suffered, died and rose again, gaining fresh perspective on what Catholics believe is the most important week in human history.
“I’ll be your guide this week as we explore some of the most sacred spaces in the most sacred place in the world,” Cavins says in the first episode of “Holy Week in the Holy Land.” “This is Jonathan’s first time in the Holy Land, and I have the honor of showing him some of the most significant locations in Jesus’ ministry.
“We’ll see that the story of Jesus isn’t just something that’s found in a fairytale or a storybook — it’s something that happened in real life, in real time, in a real place — and how these events can change our lives today.”
Cavins, who founded The Saint Paul Seminary Catechetical Institute in 2008 and mentors seminarians in their first year of formation, is no stranger to pilgrimage or preaching. But this project marks a unique blend of Scripture, technology and storytelling.
“We’ll see that the story of Jesus isn’t just something that’s found in a fairytale or a storybook — it’s something that happened in real life, in real time, in a real place — and how these events can change our lives today.” — Jeff Cavins, Saint Paul Seminary instructor and Catechetical Institute founder
The sojourn also doubled as on-site preparation as Roumie readies to portray Jesus’ crucifixion in “Chosen” filming later this year.
For Cavins, who has led more than 50 pilgrimages to the Holy Land, the project was a natural extension of his life’s work: helping others fall in love with Scripture and encounter Christ personally. It’s also a testament to his commitment to evangelization through new media, using tools like the previously No.1 “Bible in a Year” podcast with Saint Paul Seminary alumnus Fr. Mike Schmitz, the Great Adventure Bible Timeline and now Hallow to reach a modern audience hungry for truth and beauty.
The filming sessions overseas did cause Cavins to miss one of his in-person Catechetical Institute School of Discipleship class sessions — but students got a surprise when Cavins and Roumie sent them and the rest of the seminary community a special shout-out from the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
The full “Holy Week in the Holy Land” series is available exclusively on the Hallow app. Twin Cities television outlet KARE 11 has more on Cavins’ latest work and story.