FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : January 20, 2026
Award-Winning Documentary “The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous” Returns to Worcester Roots and Invites Dialogue with Filmmakers and Peacemakers
Worcester, MA — Worcester’s rich legacy in both American poetry and the peace movement takes center stage as the Worcester County Poetry Association hosts a special event “Peace in Worcester: Our History”, a film screening and discussion of The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous, a powerful documentary chronicling one of America’s most influential activist families — with deep ties to Worcester itself.
The free public event scheduled for Thursday, February 26 at 6 pm at the Museum of Worcester, 30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA will include the documentary screening followed by a distinguished panel including Claire and Scott Schaeffer-Duffy, Filmmaker Richard Dresser, David O’Brien and other special guests who will engage audiences in a conversation about faith, activism, and the enduring relevance of nonviolent resistance with connections to Worcester.
The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous tells the extraordinary story of brothers Philip and Daniel Berrigan — both Catholic priests — and Philip’s wife, Liz, a former nun. Philip Berrigan, who studied at College of the Holy Cross, would go on to become one of the most prominent peace activists of our times. Together with his wife Liz, and brother Daniel they dedicated their lives to faith-based, nonviolent resistance against war, racism, nuclear proliferation, and institutional injustice within the Catholic Church itself.
Told through the unique perspective of the next generation of Berrigans, The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous weaves together live footage of demonstrations and nonviolent actions, rare archival material, and interviews with notable figures the Berrigans inspired — including Howard Zinn, Martin Sheen, Jim Wallis, Daniel Ellsberg, and members of the Berrigan family.
Produced by filmmakers James and Willie Reale, Sue Hagedorn, and Richard Dresser, The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous makes a compelling case that nonviolent direct action remains as vital and relevant today as it was during the height of the civil rights and anti-war movements.
Once named America’s “Most Wanted” fugitives by J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, the Berrigan brothers became the “influencers” of their era, spreading the gospel of nonviolence not only from pulpits worldwide but through mainstream media appearances on talk shows, in rock lyrics, and on magazine covers. Their bold actions and unwavering commitment inspired generations of activists and faith leaders.
Renowned anti-war activist, playwright and poet, Daniel Berrigan was the first priest in U.S.
history to be arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience against war. He was arrested over 200 times for protesting, one instance of which led to an FBI “birdwatching” manhunt on Block Island, and a cover feature of both Daniel and his brother Philip Berrigan in TIME magazine. Nominated several times throughout his career for the Nobel Peace Prize, he was and is still regarded today as one of the greatest peacemakers of the 20th century. Daniel visited Worcester many times during his life.
In 1967, Tom Lewis, along with the Berrigan brothers and six others, walked into the draft office in Catonsville, Maryland, and took draft records into the parking lot, which they then burned. The group was known as the Catonsville 9, and their actions gained international coverage, even being made into a stage play and then a film in which Lewis was played by Emmy winner and five-time Golden Globe Award nominee Peter Strauss. While in prison, Lewis continued to produce art, including over one hundred portraits of his fellow inmates. The culmination of his work was a portfolio of etchings, The Trial and Prison, published to raise funds for the peace movement. After his release from prison, Tom Lewis relocated to the Worcester area, running printmaking workshops at the Worcester Art Museum and working as an art teacher at Anna Maria College. The Museum of Worcester in collaboration with filmmakers supports Draft Cards are for Burning, a feature-length documentary about the life of Tom Lewis, which is currently in production.
The Worcester screening and discussion offers a unique opportunity for the community to welcome home this important story and explore how the Berrigan legacy continues to resonate in contemporary struggles for justice and peace.
About the Film: The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous is a documentary exploring the lives and legacy of the Berrigan family’s decades-long commitment to faith-based activism and nonviolent resistance. It has been screened worldwide at numerous film festivals.
For more information about the screening and panel discussion, please contact:
Event organizer: Mark G. Wagner, markgwagner@charter.net 774.922.4351
Worcester County Poetry Association: irena@worcestercountypoetry.org, 508.797.4770 worcestercountypoetry.org
See Also: Museum of Worcester’s: Draft Cards are for Burning – Library and Archives