The image of St. Sebastian, a martyr in the early Roman Catholic Church, famously portrays him tied up and struck by numerous arrows. But did you know that’s not what killed him? St. Sebastian’s tale is told in the latest episode of Sister Justine’s Saint Tales, the audio play podcast series created and released by the Diocese of Buffalo communications department.
In the story, the students of Holy Family School, voiced in this episode by students from Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls, find themselves trailing 1-0 in their soccer match against opponents Crosstown Academy. They take exception to comments by a cocky rival player who suggests her Catholic school opponents are “soft.” Sister Justine, voiced by Melissa Cumming, leads the halftime pep talk by telling the story of St. Sebastian, whose martyrdom shows just how courageous and tough many Christians have been throughout history.
“While folks know the iconic image of St. Sebastian and all those arrows, many people don’t know he actually survived that,” said Michael Mroziak, the show’s creator and producer. “He was eventually martyred, and the show covers the circumstances by which he finally gave up his life for his Christian faith.”
Also contributing voice talents in this episode are Sara Osmanski as the kids’ soccer coach, Jeffrey Criden as St. Sebastian, Mroziak and Gregory Tobin as martyred deacons Marcellian and Marcus, Chris Riso and Eileen Elibol as Marcellian’s and Marcus’ parents, Ray Geska as Governor Chromatius, Timothy Joyce as Emperor Diocletian, and Tara Potzler as Irene, the woman who retrieved Sebastian from the archers’ field and nursed him back to good health.
Two more episodes are forthcoming to complete the podcast’s third season, featuring St. Florian and St. Gianna Beretta Molla, respectively. In the meantime, all episodes of this original production by the diocesan communications department are free to stream and download on the diocese’s official Soundcloud platform (click here to access the full Sister Justine playlist).