In a pivotal scene in the movie "Trinity's Triumph," a monsignor tells a group of seminarians about the loneliness of leading a celibate life. One student is skeptical: He won't be tempted, he says, because he won't allow himself to fall in love.
His mentor calmly corrects him. What the would-be priest should be asking, the monsignor tells him, is what he will do when he does fall in love? Over the course of the movie, the words become a prophecy.
The film itself is a labor of love for the Rev. Stephen Fichter, the pastor at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Wyckoff. He wrote "Trinity's Triumph" and brought it to the screen over 25 long years, culminating in last April's debut at Ridgewood's annual film festival.
Where to stream 'Trinity's Triumph'
This month, "Trinity's Triumph" is getting a new round of attention. It will become available for Amazon Prime Video subscribers to watch for free on Feb. 22 and for non-subscribers for purchase on-demand.
Filmed partially in North Jersey, with many extras from St. Elizabeth's, the 95-minute coming-of-age tale is currently available for free on Roku and Tubi and to rent or buy on a variety of platforms.
"Trinity's Triumph" chronicles the journey of three young seminarians from diverse backgrounds, who maintain a close friendship as they struggle to figure out their roles in life. Fortunately, the men have a wise teacher: Monsignor Heck (played by Joe Morton, the veteran actor, director and musician), who guides them along their rocky journey.
Fichter, 56, who also serves as vicar of education for the Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, first envisioned the film a quarter-century ago while studying for the priesthood in Rome. He wanted to demystify the clergy, creating "a story anyone can identify with," he told The Record.
"The reaction to the movie has been more than I could ever have expected," he said in an interview this month. "I have received so many emails and messages telling me how much the movie has opened people's eyes to ideas about the priesthood."
Fichter co-wrote the film with Kathe Carson and New Jersey native Michael Wickham, who also directed.
Demystifying the priesthood
"For the most part, priests are part of the everyday landscape, but generally not very well known as individuals," said Fichter, who has served at St. Elizabeth's since 2017. "The point is that priests have their struggles just like everyone else."
Hollywood rarely makes films that portray priests in a sympathetic light, and most of the movies out there don't reflect the modern priesthood. Fichter hopes his movie allows people to see his fellow clergy as full human beings. "The guys I teach in seminary are wonderful, funny guys," he said. "They are giving up the prospect of family. They are scared at times."
"I wanted to make a movie about the priesthood that would be attractive to the modern generation," he added.
The film doesn't shy away from tough topics, like the challenge of leading a celibate life, clergy sexual abuse and drug addiction. The priest abuse scandals were erupting into the public consciousness in 2004 as Fichter was writing the screenplay. He decided to make them part of the storyline.
"I wanted to show everyone that the [innocent] priests were also outraged by the abuse," he said.
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Although the movie isn't autobiographical, it reflects themes in Fichter's own life. The preaching style of Father Joe, one of the protagonists, is based on his own. "We even had him wear my favorite vestment when he is celebrating Mass," the priest said.
Some of the characters agonize over leaving the priesthood. That's true in real life as well, Fichter said. "The calling ends up not being for everyone. I entered the seminary with 40 guys, and not all of us are priests today," he said.
Although the film focuses on the priesthood, the messages it shares are applicable to everyone, regardless of age, gender or religious affiliation, Fichter said. "This is about each person finding their own truth," he said.
Could there be a sequel?
If the opportunity ever came up, he said, he would jump at the chance to do a sequel. "Kathe and I wrote so many versions of this script that there is more than enough material to create a film that picks our main characters up a little further down the road in their careers," Fichter said.
The movie has generated buzz among his parishioners. Many were extras for the production, which includes scenes shot in 2019 at Immaculate Conception in Mahwah, as well as the campus of Caldwell University and St. Cecilia's Church in Englewood.
Jim Townley, a parishioner at Fichter's church for over 40 years, said he was amazed by the movie and its cast. "Everyone in the parish was asking how we could see it, and many were extras in it. My wife and I went to opening night in Ridgewood, which was very exciting," he said. "A lot of us have watched it, and nobody has said they didn't like it. People like that he didn't avoid the difficult topics."
Fichter has said the characters in "Trinity's Triumph" are "all based on people he knew," Townley said. "We are all trying to figure out, `Is that so-and-so?'"
Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.Email:yellin@northjersey.com; X/Twitter: @deenayellin
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