The live theatrical one-man drama, Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz, performed by actor and film director Leonardo Defilippis of St. Luke Productions, will be presented at various locations around the diocese during September. All performances begin at 7 p.m.

Performances will be held at:

• St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Charleston, on Monday, Sept 24;
• Christ the King Parish, Springfield, on Tuesday, Sept. 25;
• Blessed Sacrament Parish, Quincy, on Wednesday, Sept. 26; and
• St. Francis Xavier Parish, Jerseyville, on Thursday, Sept. 27.

The events are sponsored by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, through endowment funds from the Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope campaign.

In Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz, audiences are offered the opportunity to experience the story of Polish priest, Maximilian Kolbe, who, just prior to World War II, proved himself as a pioneer in the use of mass media. The magazine of his Franciscan order, Knight of the Immaculata, reached a circulation of 1 million before the outbreak of the war, and his vigorous efforts have been credited with spiritually preparing the people of Europe for the coming holocaust.

Kolbe was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to the infamous concentration camp at Auschwitz. There he was forced into slave labor, tortured and humiliated. In 1941, Father Kolbe spontaneously came forward and took the place of a married man condemned to death by starvation. Forty-one years after the heroic act of sacrificing his life for another, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II who called him "the saint of our difficult age."

For over three decades, St. Luke Productions has produced high-quality live dramas, feature films, and television and radio programming on the lives of the saints and the Scriptures, including the 2004 feature film Thérèse. St. Luke Productions is also known for the popular daily meditation Benedictus Moments and their live production Vianney on St. John Vianney, which toured the country extensively.