Father Stuart Long (1963-2014) By now, you've heard about Stuart Long and his big Hollywood debut. Long was the Montana boxer and ne'er-do-well who became a Catholic and then, against all odds, a priest. When he was not healed, Long was devastated and felt abandoned, but after visiting the grotto a second time, he felt a profound peace. Interestingly, Mel Gibson's girlfriend, screenwriter Rosalind Ross, wrote and directed Father Stu. Stu. However, he was eventually diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, a rare progressive muscle disorder similar to Lou Gehrig's disease. Tofind inspiration from the man himself, take some time to listen to his own story: Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. However, in his own words, it was really at the moment of his baptism that he just knew that he was going to be a priest. Like in the movie, it wasn't something that he wanted for himself or even knew much about. Stu spoke of how he began to feel his strength weakening. Then, he decided to become a priest.. Published on Mar 23, 2021 at 5:00 PM. As Trisdale spoke to the actor, she noticed parallels between the two. "[1], Long's first assignment as a priest was to Little Flower Parish on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. -CBS Sports, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Do you think Stewart should try his hands in the boxing vertical? 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In real life, they were living together at the time of his accident. "It's a different disease but it mimics ALS, so the progression looks very similar to somebody who suffers from Lou Gehrig's Disease, and there's no cure for this one either. -Catholic Voices, Yes. Stuart Long (left) suffered from Inclusion body myositis, an incurable, progressive muscle disorder. Stu with inclusion body myositis after removing a fist-sized tumor from his hip. Surviving what many believed he wouldnt Long came our with a new lease in life and a determination to join the clergy. -Father Stu Featurette"I had some really, really interesting religious experiences," Stuart later recalled, "that proved to me what I perceived to be a call of God, and it brought me into the Catholic Church.". Father Stuart Long Boxer was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Christopher of Milan. So much so that Wahlberg is near completion of a major motion picture about the conversion and priestly ministry of Fr. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. Stus condition left him severely restricted and in pain. Stuart Long's promising boxing career was cut short in 1986 aftera blow to the jaw left him needing reconstructive surgery. Stuart Ignatius Long (July 26, 1963 - June 9, 2014) was an American boxer and Catholic priest who developed a rare progressive muscle disorder. 2009-02-27: Scott Evans: . When he told the priest who baptized him of this feeling, he told Stu not to worry, that it was often the case for adults joining the Church and the feeling would go away after a few days. Monastery, While researching the Father Stu true story, we learned that it took almost ten years for Stuart Long to become a priest after he first felt the calling to the priesthood when he was baptized in the late 1990s. In fact, he said it was the best thing that ever happened to him. The film also stars Academy Award-winner Mel Gibson, whose . A former rough-and-tumble boxer and failed actor, his remarkable calling has echoes of a saints backstory. On the back of his wheelchair, Fr. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Ed Sheerans touring partner's son, 16, tragically killed in car wreck, Sister Wives Janelle Brown doesnt approve of Christines new romance, Today's Savannah Guthrie abruptly leaves show after scary new medical diagnosis, Sam Champion says final goodbye to colleague with touching tribute, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Audiences are wondering how much of Mark Wahlberg's portrayal of Father Stu in the 2022 flick is accurate. In real life, his accident prompted him to explore religion more closely, which led him to get baptized and confirmed as a Roman Catholic so that he could marry the woman he loved, not date her. [1], After returning home from the pilgrimage to France, Long learned that Bishop George Leo Thomas of the Diocese of Helena had decided to ordain him. Stuart, or Fr. As his disease progressed, he never lost his sense of humor, his will to debate or his zest for physical fitness. To catch the movie, audiences will have to check out their local cinema's times and viewing schedule. 'I hope that with this film, we keep his spirit alive and continue his good works.'. Now, Hollywood is set to release a faith-based redemption movie about Long's life, aptly titled 'Father Stu,' on Good Friday, April 15. Immediately excelling at the sport, he won the 1985 Golden Gloves heavyweight title in Montana during his third year in college and was the runner-up the following year. "It was different," said Stuart Long's dad, Bill, of how the movie's depiction of his son compares to real life. Citing this incident, many fans wondered whether Stewart was a pro-boxer, as his strength, confidence, and fighting abilities looked like a pro-fighter. In 1985, he won the Golden Gloves heavyweight title in Montana but he quit after an invasive jaw surgery. He continued with football at Carroll College in Helena, where he discovered his passion for boxing, winning the state Golden Gloves heavyweight title in 1985. Click here if you cannot see the video above. He was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg in the 2022 biopic, Father Stu . [1], Long attended Carroll College, a private Catholic College in Helena. Bill had visited with the filmmakers and Mark Wahlberg a couple of times and spoke to Mel Gibson more than once on the phone. At the behest of his family, Long quit the sport and moved to Los Angeles with the intent of becoming an actor, but he quickly became disillusioned after starring in only a few commercials. Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reachmore than 20 million unique users per month! And every time you went to his house in California, Dumb and Dumber was on, said Trisdale. After graduating with a degree in English Literature and Writing, Long was hoping to begin a long boxing career before a fight left him needing reconstructive jaw surgery. After this incident, James was ejected from the contest. 'The witnesses told the sheriffs and reporters that I was rolling down the road and another car ran over the top of me,' Long said, 'And here I am.'. So, I had to give that up." And I also know it will be for Gods glory, said Tolleson. Finally, one girl got really mad at him and said, You want to date me but you are talking about becoming a priest. I know several who embraced the Catholic faith due to his kind example and zealous catechetical ministry., Stus formation director in his final year at Mount Angel, Abbot Peter Eberle, O.S.B., remembers the progression of his illness. Wahlberg will portray Fr. Gibson portrays Wahlberg's character's father, Bill Long, in the movie. Long fell in love with boxing during his time at Carroll College. In a rare move for Hollywood, a film championing the extraordinary life of a boxer and actor-turned priest has hit the screens. Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson will star in a movie about Fr. Quite simply: We always have to fall on the side of life.. Moreover, the Los Angeles Lakers legend even tried to get in touch with Stewart via phone. After jaw surgery ended Stuart Long's boxing career, his mom, Kathleen Long, suggested that he move to Los Angeles to try and break into the movie business as an actor. They both had confidence and great smiles. During our research into how true is Father Stu, we learned that Mark Wahlberg, a well-known fitness advocate with a strict diet and workout regimen, put on 30 pounds to portray the boxer-turned-priest. As a high school student athlete in Montana, he excelled at wrestling and football. The Friars sent him to Ohio to study philosophy at Steubenville's Franciscan University where he earned a Master's Degree. He said he tried to consume the calories "in a healthy way." Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a124b8cf9ddfe20 It wasn't easy preparing for the role. At first, Wahlberg was rolling his eyes, like even my priest is pitching me,' said Tolleson. And he even describes himself as being a little rambunctious back in the day, preferring individual sports such as boxing to football. He wants people to come away from the movie with the message to: Have faith, hang in there, endure.. Long died of a degenerative muscle disease in 2014. Stus dad, Bill Long, is portrayed as an absent father who neglected his family. Following the release of the film Father Stu, the deceased boxer-turned-Catholic priest made headlines. It was reported back in 2016 that Wahlberg was developing a film on the life of Montana athlete-turned-priest, Father Stuart Long. He moved on to working as a bouncer at night clubs and comedy bars to pay the bills, and he eventually found steady work at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, where he became a manager. So it seems only right that it was an accident that lead to subsequent religious experiences and his eventual turning to God. It certainly will take liberties with the story, but it will get interest in his life, and that alone is a good thing, Fr. Telegram Channel The symptoms mimic those of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Long didnt like to give up. "When I was baptized, at the very moment the priest is pouring the water over my head, I didn't hear the voice of God or see a big banner come down from the sky or anything, I just knew that I was gonna be a priest," recalled Father Stu. Gab Though confined to a wheelchair, he led intense group exercise classes at a local Helena gym. It's helped me overcome some of my prideful ways, which were a big cross for me for many years. . In 2010, he moved to a long-term care facility in Helena, where he continued ministry as a priest, relying on others to transport him. It's far more relatable to people, and we want everybody to see this movie." "I got hit by a car, and I smashed into a car in the next lane with my head," Father Stu recalled. This is somewhat opposite to what we see in the movie. 'I'd go to visit him at the rehab center, which was really a rehab nursing home. But other than his relationship with Sullivan, he thought Catholicism was a joke, said Tolleson. 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