Fighting the Good Fight

A noble life. He sacrificed everything to bring Christ to others. He saved thousands of souls, clothed the naked, fed the hungry, visited the prisoner. A hero, a humble "saint." This was Fr. Peter Whelan.

This is the first and only documentary presentation of the life of the remarkable and truly inspiring Fr. Peter Whelan, a Civil War chaplain and parish priest, whose life was lived according to St. Paul's words "No longer I, but Christ who lives within me." Peter Whelan left his life in Ireland and journeyed to the American South in 1830 to serve in the poor Catholic mission parishes.

Fr. Peter was more than a military chaplain, he was also a parish priest and even the administrator of the diocese of Savannah for two years. When offered the episcopal appointment to the diocese of Savannah himself, he humbly declined. He served, indiscriminantly, imprisoned soldiers of both the Union and Confederate armies - actually living with the men in the difficult conditions of the prison camps - both Union and Confederate. He was the only chaplain at the notorious Andersonville prison camp in Georgia, perhaps the most amazing part of his life. The horrors at Andersonville caused the death of over 13,000 Union prisoners of war.

Due to the gritty and mature nature of this film, it is not recommended for viewing by children under the age of 12.

Fr. Peter is another superb example of a Catholic priest of heroic virtue - he said "When I give for Christ's sake, I give the best!" and he lived his life that way. In the jubliee Year of the Priest, there is no better time than now to tell the awe-inspiring story of his life and work.

More about Fr. Peter Whelan's life and work can be found on the American Catholic blog here in the posting entitled Priest of Andersonville.