Logline: Jeremy Paine, now a Catholic priest, returns back to his home city in an attempt to keep St. Casimir parish from closing its doors forever.

SYNOPSIS:

Simmering with unresolved rage toward his alcoholic father for leaving him, and his brother for taking up a life of violence, African-American Jeremy Paine returns back to crime ridden Brighton City as ordained Catholic priest, Father Valentine. He battles to keep St. Casimir parish opened as a way to prove to himself and others he is not like his father or brother. His family’s history is no secret to the parishioners, and they try to chase him out of the parish. Orchestrating these efforts is Sonny Franklin, parish trustee and city mayor, who not only wants to see the parish closed, but the entire city block wiped away. Rose Anderson and her daughter’s family, Emily and Jeff VanSustren, support Father. Their son, Joshua, admires Father, and confides in him about wanting to be a priest. Joshua also wants to break the barriers between the black and white communities. He thinks this can be done by starting a community-wide choir, and working at Shep’s, a black run grocery store. Here he meets Stephen Johnson, a delinquent who tries to kill Joshua in a fight. Joshua wins. Somehow Stephen and Joshua form a friendship. As Father Valentine encounters battles with the parish and city, his father returns begging for forgiveness and a place to live. Reluctantly Father permits his father to live with him. Gradually they begin to repair their torn relationship. The aging church foundation deteriorates and becomes dangerous for parishioners to enter. Sonny, with the help of the city, tries to pressure the church to close. Rose donates the funds for the repairs. Father has won this battle. Against his better judgment, Father is persuaded by Joshua to hire Stephen Johnson to work at the parish. Shortly after, the church is robbed, and the money is found outside Stephen’s house. Sonny Franklin contacts the Bishop to tell him he thinks it’s unsafe to keep the doors of St. Casimir opened. Father assures the Bishop the church is thriving. It’s not until Father discovers Sonny was behind the robbery that the Bishop decides not to close St. Casimir. Father is feeling victorious until a gang of boys attack Joshua and kill Stephen on the steps of St. Casimir. The Bishop shuts the parish for good. Overwhelmed with defeat, Father asks to be removed from the priesthood. All those around him see his vocation, but he is not convinced. Still bitter, Father feels obligated to visit his brother, Michael, one last time before his execution. By baptizing Michael, Father is shown that he is still being called to the priesthood, but he doesn’t see it. He, however, begins the process of forgiving his brother. That night, in the execution-viewing-room, Father meets Chul Jong, the wife of Michael’s victim. She challenges his decision to leave the priesthood. Another concern is given to him in the form of a letter written by Joshua. In it he declares he no longer wishes to enter the seminary. Emotionally burdened, Father returns back to the desolate St. Casimir and re-encounters Sonny Franklin. Sonny confesses to Father that he too was dealing with a troubled past. He held the belief that the only way to erase the memories was to demolish St. Casimir parish and the buildings surrounding it. Sonny also tells Father that St. Casimir is a refuge in the city, and they must find a way to re-open the parish. They persuade the Bishop to give them one more chance. Against the Brighton Police Department’s wishes, the parish and community march to the drug houses and call out the known names of the boys. Inside one of the drug houses is the ring-leader. He shoots one of the boys for trying to escape, but the police swarm the house, and the boys are freed. Through a long rehabilitation process, the boys learn how to live lives with a purpose. Father discerns the true reason for keeping St. Casimir opened. He also discovers mercy and renewed love for his father and his parish family.