Client
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
Location
St. Louis, Missouri and Peoria, Illinois
Collaborators
PerformItLive
Antfood
H&X
ShowFab
Sector
Cultural Institutions & Museums
Services Provided:
Strategy
Experience Strategy
Story
Narrative Development
Creative Concepting & Experience Mapping
Filmmaking & Animation
Design
Experience Design
Immersive Media Design
Sound Design
Delivery
Vendor/Fabrication Procurement & Oversight
Installation, Integration & Commissioning
Introduction
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen reached millions through his pioneering use of radio and television. Journey brought his legacy to contemporary audiences through a pair of experiences that connected his historic influence with the future of the Sheen Experience in Peoria.
Challenge
The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation needed to honor Sheen’s character, voice and historical significance while making his legacy relevant to today’s audiences.
The project also had to link two distinct moments: a Beatification ceremony in St. Louis attended by more than 50,000 people, and an intimate immersive installation in Peoria. Together, the experiences needed to build awareness, encourage pilgrimage and create an emotional connection, while showing potential donors and investors what a permanent Sheen Experience could become.
Solution
Journey developed a connected storytelling strategy that moves audiences from celebration to discovery.
Cinematic films introduced the vision for the future Sheen Experience to a national audience, using Sheen’s life and legacy to connect his historic influence with a contemporary audience. In Peoria, a temporary immersive installation at the proposed future home of the Sheen Experience gave visitors a tangible sense of what the permanent destination could become.
A moment of national significance
The Beatification Mass at The Dome in St. Louis brought together more than 50,000 attendees, including a Vatican delegation.
As part of the “Celebrate Sheen Show” pre-Mass programming, Journey created cinematic films for the venue’s jumbotron screens, introducing the vision for the Sheen Experience and sharing interviews exploring Sheen’s legacy. The films encouraged pilgrims, supporters and potential donors to continue their journey in Peoria.
From the Mass to the Experience
The story continued in Peoria. Journey created a temporary immersive installation at the Spalding Pastoral Center, the proposed future home of the Sheen Experience.
Designed for both the public and potential investors, as well as visitors making a pilgrimage to Sheen’s tomb, the pop-up provided a first look at the ambition behind the future destination.
At its heart was a recreation of the Life Is Worth Living studio, home to Sheen’s 1950s TV series, brought to life using a Pepper’s Ghost illusion. Journey also led the concept and creative oversight of an AI avatar of the Archbishop, projected onto a Liminal 3D screen, creating a convincing sense of presence while carefully considering the character and legacy of Sheen.
Storytelling across generations
The Archbishop Sheen Experience demonstrates how religious and cultural heritage can be reimagined for contemporary audiences through a combination of storytelling, immersive design and emerging technology.
Across St. Louis and Peoria, Journey created a connected journey from celebration to discovery, bringing Archbishop Sheen’s legacy to new audiences while giving pilgrims, supporters and potential investors a glimpse of the next chapter of his story.
“People will be able to study and really experience Sheen in a manner in which it’s just going to be revolutionary”
– Royce Hood, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Diocese of Peoria, via Zeale News
Impact
48,000+
Tickets sold for the Beatification Mass at The Dome in St. Louis
10+ countries
Pilgrims registered for the Beatification Mass, from at least 49 states
2 cities
One connected story, from St. Louis to Peoria