Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

I'm Father Darrin Merlino, a Catholic priest in the order of Claretian Missionaries. I was born in Santa Maria, California, grew up in Santa Barbara and Huntington Beach, and became a So Cal beach boy and bodysurfer. I now live and minister at the historic San Gabriel Mission, in San Gabriel, CA. In October 2025, I celebrated the 25th anniversary of my ordination, which, in 2000, was actually the first Catholic ordination in USA history to be broadcast live via the internet. I wanted that watershed event in my life to reflect my motivation to become a priest: to evangelize the Gospel through new and traditional media. I’ve continued down that road, with some important detours along the way for my pastoral work, as the CEO and Founder of Catholic Media Missionaries. Through CMM, I create video content to spread a message of love and hope to the viewer.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

True confession: I’m a foodie. So, besides living and working at a beautiful and historic California Mission, I really love—maybe a little too much, my friends would say—that there are so many great restaurants in the nearby Pasadena area.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

I produce media content that, not surprisingly, is focused on the Catholic faith, and specifically on the many fascinating ways in which God subtly intervenes in our lives. In fact, a personal case in point answers your question regarding how CMM got started: When I learned about Steven Spielberg’s USC Shoah Foundation Project, in which over 55,000 Holocaust survivors were interviewed, I was immediately struck with an inspiration to create my own video interview series. I called it “Hound of Heaven,” based on the renowned 1890 poem of the same name by Francis Thompson. What’s really unique about the idea for “Hound of Heaven,” is that no other interview series features a Catholic priest encouraging Catholic celebrities and notables to tell their amazing stories of life, faith, and career, both the trials and triumphs, and how God took a hand in the direction of their lives.

The show concept inspiration in turn led me to start my 501(c)(3) non-profit, Catholic Media Missionaries, in order to produce “Hound of Heaven”—with the assistance of my board plus several key professional contributors—plus consult and advise on a range of other Catholic-oriented media projects.

My goal for “Hound of Heaven” is to have the show inspire and affect all people, of all backgrounds, religiously affiliated or not, with positive and uplifting messages that come from the hearts of people already in the public eye. And that has worked out surprisingly well. I have been so gratified that many who are not affiliated with organized religion at all have been moved by the “Hound of Heaven” videos to make some very profound changes in what they do and how they live.

How does it help your customers?

It’s funny, I’ve never thought of CMM’s audience as customers, no more than I would my parishioners. But, after a moment’s reflection, I realized that, since I do work in the media industry, on the professional side—whether in film, TV, internet, streaming services, publishing, etc.—I suppose that our ministry does have customers. For them, I like to think that we offer a unique value proposition, in addition to exposing them personally to a message that they may have never experienced before, at least not in such an entertaining way.

Furthermore, as an ordained Catholic priest, my knowledge of the faith plus my experience in media has opened unusual doors for me. Those extensions of my profile and biography may indeed add some interest and resonance to those who are looking into Catholic Media Ministries. For just one example: I assisted the writers and directors of the movie, “Nefarious” (2023), as their theological consultant, technical advisor, and promoter. I was even enlisted to play a small role in the film, and later I traveled around the country to attend screenings of the film and participate in Q & A sessions afterwards. I’ve also been a guest on numerous radio programs and podcasts, both in the US and internationally, talking about my experiences on and off the set.

If someone wants to start a business, what's your advice that will help them?

I read several books by Jim Collins that profoundly shaped and influenced me, in my new vocation of being a CEO, and building and running a media ministry:

1) “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” (1994)

2) “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t” (2001)

3) “Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck–Why Some Thrive Despite Them All” (2011).

Another one I would highly recommend is “The Five Most Important Questions: You Will Ever Ask About Your Organization,” by Peter Drucker.

Furthermore, I can share some hard-won lessons from my own journey: Ask advice from very successful people and business leaders; make sure you are not the smartest person in the room; get comfortable with social media and commit to its use; educate yourself on the challenges, dangers, and opportunities inherent in AI. Most importantly, don't be afraid to make mistakes—but be humble enough to admit them and correct them as fast as possible, before they cause too much damage.

Finally, also from my personal experience and others, this is one of the most essential things one needs to do before one starts any venture: research and secure the URL of your chosen business name, or, depending on your resources, purchase it from the current holder. If you can’t, for whatever reason, then maybe you need to rethink the name before you commit to it.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

The directors and producers of the movie “Nefarious” told me that for their project to be completed on time, they felt they needed the presence of a Catholic priest on the set. I was honored that they asked me. They told me later that having me bless the set daily, say Mass for them and the crew, was a critical ingredient in maintaining peace and efficiency on the set—especially considering the intense content of the script. My contributions to the film in consulting, advising, acting, and promoting all grew out of that original need.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I want Catholic Media Missionaries to be a major influence in a positive direction, offering fresh and inspiring messaging that uplifts the viewer because it relates to their own lives. Also, I hope to mentor up-and-coming content creators—in other words, to pay forward the blessings I’ve received to the next generation.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

Frankly, one of the biggest misconceptions about media production is that it’s easy to do, that anyone with an iPhone can do it. In reality, if you have professional standards, it takes a team of people with a lot of skill, time, passion, determination, and, yes, money.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

Unquestionably, balancing media work and full-time priestly duties at San Gabriel Mission, plus all the baptisms, weddings, and funerals, is my biggest challenge. In addition to my standard priestly duties, we have an elementary and high school attached to the Mission (only eight Catholic Churches in the LA Archdiocese have a high school connected to a parish), two church buildings and three different language groups: English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Often, it’s a little like spinning three plates on a stick at once.

For example, I might have thirty minutes or an hour to work on a project, and then, on a dime, I have to focus again on being a priest, devote myself to my parishioners in whatever way is needed—which sometimes can be very emotional, demanding, and even harrowing—then go back to being creative. Sometimes, I get to the end of the day and I’m not sure whether I’m coming or going. It’s always prayer and surrender that save me, along with having a great team and board at CMM.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

For music, it has to be Elvis. I used to imitate his performing moves, too. I can still picture in my mind where I was when his death was announced on the radio—in my mom’s Chevy Nova. That hit me hard. My favorite athlete was Jim Thorpe. I so admired that he could be so talented in so many sports. He was the original Bo Jackson.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I want to thank the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for protecting, guiding and inspiring me to use my God-given gifts in this endeavor.

Where can our readers follow your work or learn more about your upcoming projects?

For Catholic Media Missionaries, I’ve listed relevant links below. If you’d like to delve into a very profound mystical experience I had, you can order my book on Amazon: "30 Days Unplugged: How A Catholic Priest Turned Off His iPhone And Took a Call from God." This is an intimate account of my month-long silent Ignatian retreat, containing my insights, emotions, illuminations and visions—many of them illustrated by incredible artists. Also, if you’d like to hear me preach, I’m on Spotify: “Father D's Sermolys.”

Website: https://www.CMM1.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherdarrin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catholicmediamissionaries/

https://www.facebook.com/HoundofHeavenSeries

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frdarrinmerlinocmf/

Twitter: https://x.com/TheHoundofHeave

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3nM-JI-MqkE

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/37nmlDTn3VTV9IX11OvGqE