With the passing of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton on April 4, 2024 the filmmakers have made the full film available to the general public via the Vimeo platform. In lieu of payments and to honor the bishop’s memory, we strongly suggest film viewers give a donation to one of two causes important to the bishop’s legacy: the St. Leo Soup Kitchen in Detroit, formerly housed at the bishop’s parish, or the San Mateo Haitian Refugee Outreach Ministry co-managed by Detroit’s Gesu Parish in Puerto Rico.

DONATE TO THE ST. LEO'S SOUP KITCHEN FUND

DONATE TO THE SAN MATEO HAITIAN REFUGEE OUTREACH MINISTRY

Since the film’s premiere donations were previously sent to Kay Lasante, a free clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which was co-founded by Bishop Tom and the House of Grace Catholic Worker in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, due to violence in the area the clinic has since closed. Please consider giving to the two organizations above instead.

THE INSPIRATION

American Prophet is a narrative short film based on the life of Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit. As an internationally-renowned peace activist and social justice advocate, Bishop Gumbleton has become a hero to many around the world.

Learn more about bishop gumbleton

GALLERY

Jonathan C. Stewart as Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and the American Prophet crew

Jonathan C. Stewart as Bishop Thomas Gumbleton

The American Prophet cast and crew.

Frank de Julio as Father Ken Untener.

Coleman Ward as Stephen Walters.

From left to right: Robert Najarian as Fr. Norm Thomas, Frank de Julio as Fr. Ken Untener, and Jonathan C. Stewart as Bishop Thomas Gumbleton.

Marty Bufalini as Archbishop John Francis Dearden.

Joshua Brown as Paul Ewell.

From left to right: Milica Govich Vukasovich as Sr. Margaret, Jonathan C. Stewart as Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Alysia Kolascz as Sr. Elizabeth.

Carollette Goodman as Evelyn Walters.

Screen Shot 2014-12-13 at 12.48.13 AM.png

Jonathan C. Stewart as Bishop Thomas Gumbleton.

THE MUSIC OF AMERICAN PROPHET

In 2015 excerpts from the music of American Prophet were featured in the Kresge Foundation’s Art X Detroit exhibition, held at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Max M. Fisher Music Center. The song Light of the Sun was created for the film by composer Steve Sholtes and lyricist Steve Kopera, and was performed by Malaya Watson, a former parishioner of Bishop Gumbleton’s and an American Idol finalist, the Mosaic Youth Theatre Singers, John Thorne and the Black Catholic Ministries Choir, composer Keir Ward and the singers and musicians of the Motown Legends Gospel Choir, Rick Robinson, the Cut Time Productions musicians and conductor Augustus Hill.