Actor David Henrie is releasing a new docuseries with EWTN Studios titled "Seeking Beauty with David Henrie," premiering on January 19, 2026. Henrie attributes his return to the Catholic faith, in part, to experiencing beauty, specifically at St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County where he made his first general confession. The six-episode series follows Henrie as he travels through Italy and Vatican City, exploring the art, music, history, and culture of these regions in a search for beauty. The actor, known for roles in "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "How I Met Your Mother," is also a brand ambassador for Cross Catholic Outreach. The show will debut on EWTN+'s streaming platform, which is accessible for free on RokuTV.
about 2 months ago
David Henrie, 36, gained fame starring in Disney's "Wizards of Waverly Place" and CBS's "How I Met Your Mother." He serves as a brand ambassador for Cross Catholic Outreach.1
Henrie credits beauty for his Catholic conversion at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, California, a Norbertine monastery, on January 1, 2012. He made his first general confession there after a recommendation from friend Kevin James, amid personal struggles including depression and a toxic relationship despite career success.1
The abbey's stunning architecture played a key role, as Henrie describes beauty "knocking on my door" and leaving a lasting mark; he still visits with his wife Maria and three children.1
Henrie hosts and executive produces the six-episode docuseries "Seeking Beauty with David Henrie," premiering January 19, 2026, on EWTN+. The series explores art, music, food, history, culture, and people in Italy, including Vatican City, Rome, Florence, Milan, Subiaco, and Venice.1
Produced by EWTN Studios and others, it streams free on EWTN+, RokuTV, and more; a second season was filmed in Spain.1
Henrie views beauty as "a fingerprint of the divine" and God's language, arguing it is objective rather than subjective due to its universal impact across faiths and ages.1
In the series, he engages experts, artists like Ilaria della Bidia and Sofia Novelli, examines masterpieces and monasteries, and shares his faith journey.1
Henrie features his wife Maria and children, purchasing Sofia Novelli's painting of the Holy Family to hang by their bed as a reminder of their ideals.1
He urges viewers to invite beauty into homes by evaluating surroundings for what draws them to God and to visit featured sites for inspiration.1
Henrie has struggled balancing secular Hollywood work with vocal faith expression but finds joy in this authentic project.1
He hopes the series sparks contemplation of beauty's source, leading to God.1
How does Catholic conversion influence contemporary media representations?
Catholic conversion, understood as a free and personal response to God's grace leading one to embrace the fullness of faith in Christ and His Church, intersects with contemporary media in complex ways shaped by Church teachings on evangelization, respect for freedom, and the ethical use of communications. While the sources do not provide direct evidence of specific influences from conversions on media portrayals—such as news coverage, films, or social media narratives—they emphasize the Church's call for media to serve authentic proclamation rather than manipulative proselytism, fostering representations that honor human dignity and spiritual discernment. This framework suggests that genuine Catholic conversions could inspire positive, transformative stories in media, countering secular biases or sensationalism, while urging Catholics to engage media critically and creatively for the new evangelization.
At its core, Catholic conversion is not coerced but a profound, Spirit-led journey from sin to God's love, involving initial faith, moral transformation, and social implications. The Second Vatican Council's Ad Gentes stresses that the Gospel is preached "with confidence and constancy" to all, enabling non-Christians—when the Holy Spirit opens their hearts—to "believe and be freely converted to the Lord." This process surpasses spiritual expectations, marking an "abrupt breaking off of human ties" yet bringing divine joy, developed through catechumenate. The Church "strictly forbids forcing anyone to embrace the Faith, or alluring or enticing people by worrisome wiles," insisting on purified motives.
In interreligious contexts, conversion requires "sufficient time for adequate reflection and preparation, through a process ensuring full personal freedom." Consultations affirm the right to invite others to faith without violating rights or denigrating other religions. For converts in marriage dissolution cases, inquiries probe the timing, mindset, and influences behind baptism. These principles imply that media representations of Catholic conversions should highlight authentic discernment, avoiding dramatized or coercive narratives that misrepresent the faith.
Contemporary media, described as "the first Areopagus of the modern age," profoundly shapes opinions, life meaning, and culture, making it essential for proclaiming Christ. Pope John Paul II urged the Church to integrate the Gospel into the "new culture" of communications with "new languages, new techniques and a new psychology." This includes using secular media opportunities alongside Catholic outlets for re-evangelization, as "human experience itself is an experience of media."
Documents like Aetatis Novae and The Church and Internet call for "energetic and skilful use" of media—books, TV, internet—to evangelize, bearing in mind audiovisual impact via "see, judge, act." In Oceania, media offer "an excellent opportunity... to build community and solidarity," especially reaching non-practicing Catholics, with pastoral plans urged at all levels. Consecrated persons must "learn the language of the media" to interpret contemporary "joys and hopes," promoting ethical programs rich in Christian values. Towards a Pastoral Approach to Culture notes media's role in globalizing culture, where Catholic stations counter uniformity with evangelization, and lay involvement in secular media advances human culture.
Catholic conversions could thus influence media by modeling stories of joyful transformation, encouraging "dedicated lay people to enter the media professionally as a vocation" and producing content reflecting Gospel witness.
The sources vigilantly caution against media's potential harms, particularly "manipulation or base proselytism," incompatible with ecumenism and interreligious cooperation. "Sects" using media for aggressive evangelism exacerbate issues, demanding respect for others' faiths. Media can propagate consumerism, violence, or ideologies conflicting with Catholic vision, reducing people to consumers and eroding critical awareness. Advertising's power, amplified by globalization, often clashes with faith, necessitating discernment training in families and schools.
For conversions, this means media should avoid "distorted use" that pressures or sensationalizes, instead promoting "discerning listeners" who value media's "relative nature" per God's plan. The Church encourages "examination of conscience" in media for bias against religious convictions, fostering respectful representations.
Though sources lack empirical data on conversions' media impact, they outline a vision where Catholic stories—freely chosen, grace-filled—could counter secular indifference or hostility. Positive portrayals might emerge through Church-media collaboration, like Jubilee telecasts or ethical advertising highlighting conversion's joy. Deacon formation underscores service to the poor and Gospel witness, potentially inspiring media narratives of charitable converts.
In a multi-religious world, authentic conversions invite without coercion, influencing media toward narratives of universal human dignity. Challenges persist: global media homogenize culture, risking Catholic stories being drowned by materialism. Yet, the Church's proactive presence—via centers, prizes, and professionals—positions conversions as beacons of hope.
In summary, Catholic conversion principles demand media representations that prioritize freedom, truth, and evangelization over sensationalism, with the Church equipped to shape this through creative engagement. This fosters a culture where conversions illuminate Christ's light amid media's vast arena.