You’d think a documentary about a young priest dying of cancer would be a total downer. Honestly, most "faith-based" films feel a bit like homework—heavy on the message, light on the actual human connection. But the Love God's Will movie is doing something different. It isn’t just some pious tribute gathering dust in a parish basement; it's selling out theaters and making people who haven’t stepped foot in a church in years actually feel something.
I’ve seen a lot of these biographical documentaries. Usually, they follow a predictable path: guy is good, guy gets sick, guy stays good, the end. But Fr. Ryan Stawaisz, the guy at the center of this story, had a vibe that was just... infectious.
He was a petroleum engineer from Texas A&M. He had the high-paying career path all lined up. Then he walks away from the oil money because he feels a "nudge." That’s a big move. But the real kicker—and the reason this movie is called what it is—happened right before he was supposed to be ordained. The cancer he thought he beat in college came back. Hard.
What Really Happened with Fr. Ryan Stawaisz?
The Love God's Will movie focuses on a shift in perspective that most of us struggle with. When things go wrong, we usually try to "white knuckle" our way through it. We try to tolerate God’s will or maybe accept it if we’re feeling particularly holy that day. Ryan didn't want to just accept it. He wanted to love it.
That sounds crazy, right? Who loves getting a terminal diagnosis?
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Directed by Cimela Kidonakis and produced by the team at Palomita Films, the documentary uses a massive stash of home videos. His parents, Ray and Susan Stawaisz, basically handed over a giant box of old VHS tapes. Because of that, the film doesn't feel like a polished corporate production. It feels like looking through someone’s family photo album. You see him as a kid, you see him playing the drums, you see him as a "typical Aggie" at A&M.
The Ordination Drama
There’s a scene that hits hard—the ordination. Ryan was so sick he could barely stand. Cardinal DiNardo ordained him in 2019, and Ryan only got to be a priest for about two years. Most of that was during the height of the pandemic, which meant he was often recording homilies from a screen or ministering to people while he himself was fading away.
The filmmakers, including Jessi Hannapel and Garret McCall, actually used a reenactment actor, Mauricio Barrera Chico, to fill in some of the gaps where they didn't have footage. Usually, reenactments in documentaries are cheesy. Here? They’re surprisingly grounded. Maybe it’s because the family gave the actor Ryan’s actual basketball warmup gear to wear. It adds a layer of reality that hits you in the gut.
Why People are Still Talking About Love God's Will in 2026
It’s been a few years since the initial release in 2024, but the Love God's Will movie has had this weird, grassroots staying power. It didn’t have a $100 million marketing budget. It spread because people kept calling the filmmakers saying, "Hey, can we show this at our school?" or "Can we rent out a theater in my town?"
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It’s about the "Overton window" of faith. Ryan’s sister, Gaby, mentioned in an interview that the response has been humbling because everyone they meet seems to have a "Ryan story." He wasn't some untouchable saint on a pedestal; he was a guy who liked bagpipes and beer and happened to be deeply in love with Jesus.
Not Your Typical "Christian Movie"
If you’re expecting a 90-minute sermon, you’ll be disappointed. This is a story about suffering that doesn't offer easy answers. It acknowledges that it sucks to be 31 and dying. It shows the frustration. But it also shows this weird, radiant joy he had.
One of the most famous stories—which the movie covers—is his Good Friday homily. He talked about surrender. Not the "I give up" kind of surrender, but the "I trust you" kind. That’s where the title comes from. It wasn't about doing God's will like a checklist. It was about loving the path, even when the path led to a hospital bed.
Key Details You Might Have Missed
- The Power Outage: During the premiere at a Regal theater in Tomball, Texas, the power literally cut out 15 minutes into the movie—right when Ryan started talking about his vocation. The crowd stayed. They waited it out.
- The Crowdfunding: This wasn't a studio-backed project. It was funded by people who just wanted the story told. They raised over $50,000 just to get it into 50 theaters across the country.
- The "Jesus with Skin On" Tag: That’s how some of his parishioners at Prince of Peace Catholic Community described him. He had this way of making people feel seen.
How to Watch Love God's Will Now
If you missed the initial theater run, don't worry. The Love God's Will movie is still circulating.
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- Parish Screenings: This is still the big one. Many local churches host screenings as "movie nights." It’s basically the modern version of a parish mission.
- School Programs: It’s being used a lot in high schools and seminaries to talk about vocations.
- Digital/Physical Media: You can usually find the DVD or streaming options through the Palomita Films website. They also have a bunch of merch—prayer cards, coloring books (weirdly enough, Ryan is in a saints coloring book now), and hoodies.
Honestly, the best way to experience it is with a group. There’s something about sitting in a dark room with a bunch of other people, watching a guy face the end of his life with a smile, that makes your own problems feel a bit more manageable.
The takeaway here isn't that we should all go out and become priests. Most of us won't. The point the Love God's Will movie makes is that whatever life throws at you—whether it's a dream job or a nightmare diagnosis—there's a way to find peace in it. You just have to stop fighting the reality of where you are and start looking for the beauty in the mess.
If you’re looking to host a screening or just want to see if there’s one near you, check the official Palomita Films site or reach out to your local diocese. They usually have the updated schedule for where the film is traveling next.