New documentary features Midwest miraculous events and incredible stories of faith

For Release

God is Alive, Part 2, produced by Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, available to watch now for free

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Our world is filled with challenges such as selfishness, hardship, and tragedy. Have you or someone you love ever asked, “God, are you really up there?” Whether your faith is strong, wavering, or even lost, you are invited to watch God is Alive, Part 2, a powerful one-hour documentary that will renew your hope, inspire your spirit, and deepen your love of God and faith.

Join Andrew Hansen, host of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois’ podcast Dive Deep, editor of diocese’s magazine, Catholic Times, and former TV personality, and Father Michael Trummer, pastor of parishes in Tuscola, Arcola, and Villa Grove (Illinois), on an adventure across the Midwest. Together, they found four incredible stories of miraculous events and inspirational testimonies of faith that reveal God’s presence no matter the circumstances. These stories will help you to live your faith with boldness and action and recognize that God is always alive, but the difference is letting Him into your life.

God is Alive, Part II comes on the heels of the duos 2023 documentary, God is Alive, that was featured in the National Catholic Register, Relevant Radio, Series XM Radio, Catholic TV, the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Eucharistic Congress, and other outlets across the country.

“It’s so easy to fall into despair, become angry at God, or think miracles can’t happen when life has you down,” Hansen said. “This documentary shows miracles can happen, and if you truly allow God into your life, especially during times of tragedy and heartache, God will show you He is alive, and He will do things you least expect.”

God is Alive, Part 2 takes viewers to Gower, MO; Edwardsville, IL; Ashland, IL; and Chicago and features Hansen and Father Trummer traveling to each city, discussing certain aspects of faith and their own marriage and priestly vocations, then a feature on the miraculous event/person of incredible faith, and then the two of them reacting to each story with Father Trummer discussing how each story can help you in your own faith journey. The four stories highlight miraculous events that people will be surprised to learn about and touch on many things people struggle with such as prayer, being hopeful, not being able to forgive, and dealing with tragedy.

The four stories include:

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster founded the religious community, Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Gower, Missouri. After her death in 2019, the sisters there described her as “saintly.” Then, in 2023, something happened that caused local and national news media and tens of thousands of people to descend on their property all at once, as Sister Wilhelmina, four years after her death, proved she is a saint in the eyes of many.
Alma Pederson of Edwardsville grew up in Mexico. Her life growing up was anything but what a child and teenager should experience – joy and being loved. Her dad was an alcoholic, her dad would hit her mom, the family didn’t have money, she slept on the floor with no pillows, she had no toys, Alma’s mom told Alma that she didn’t love her, Alma’s boyfriend drugged her and then raped her, she became pregnant, Alma’s mom wouldn’t talk to her, Alma’s mom called Alma a prostitute (Alma chose life for her child), and Alma’s Dad tried to molest Alma’s sister. Despite all of that, Alma did something hardly anyone could do.
During her teenage years, Colette Gaston of Ashland battled one health crisis after another. On two occasions, she was given less than a 50% chance to live. Needing a miracle to get better and stay better, her family turned to prayer. That’s when heaven sent several clear messages it was listening and would help.
Walking into Mary Davis’ home in suburban Chicago, you will see a family of love and faith, but to think, Mary’s two beautiful daughters and her husband, Alex, converting to Catholicism, would not have happened, if it were not for family tragedy.

“We need to keep sharing stories and testimonies because God is alive, He’s active, and He’s real,” Father Trummer said. “If I were a spiritual doctor and someone was like, ‘Hey, spiritual doctor, what is your prescription for low faith?’ I would prescribe to them testimonies. Testimonies are one of the primary ways to build faith.”

God is Alive, Part 2 took about a year to film using two cameras and cell phones, with Hansen and Father Trummer doing all the work.

“We want to take viewers on an authentic and raw journey with us as we traveled in the Midwest, so it’s our hope that intimacy makes viewers connect more with the stories,” Hansen said.

To watch God is Alive, Part 2 and God is Alive (Part 1), go to dio.org/documentary/.