Levar Burton (Geordi La Forge, Chief Engineer) | Great Rosary Campaign: Star Trek Edition

Feb 9, 2026

A call to prayer and penance aimed at the conversion of a famous sci‑fi actor. Discussion of his Catholic upbringing and time in seminary. A proposed 24‑hour water fast as a suggested penance. Reflections on praying for leaders, enemies, and the power of the Rosary.

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ANECDOTE

Personal Trekkie Connection

Joshua Charles shares his Trekkie background and affection for Star Trek characters like Picard and Geordi LaForge.
He explains how those characters inspired him and shaped his admiration for LeVar Burton's work.

INSIGHT

Praying For A Return

LeVar Burton was baptized and raised Catholic but later left the Church, which Joshua notes without judgment.
Joshua frames praying for Burton's return as an act of love and hope rooted in the Church's enduring history.

ADVICE

Suggested Penance: Water Fast

Joshua Charles suggests a 24-hour water fast as the week's penance, adjusted for each person's state of life.
He instructs the faithful to do less if elderly, sick, or otherwise unable and to pray specifically for LeVar Burton.

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The Great Rosary Campaign is an ongoing prayer and penance campaign for the conversion and strengthening of both Catholic and non-Catholic leaders.

As a "Trekkie" (lover of Star Trek), we will be devoting several Great Rosary Campaigns to praying for the conversion of all remaining Star Trek cast members to the Catholic Faith.

THIS FIRST WEEK of the Great Rosary Campaign: Star Trek Edition, we are praying for the conversion of Levar Burton, the beloved actor who played Geordi La Forge, Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise-D in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and hosted "Reading Rainbow." Levar was raised Catholic, but later left the Church. Please join us in praying that he may "live long and prosper," and return to the Church.

The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is a 24 hour water fast, adjusted for your state in life.

In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have. The Rosary is foremost among them. Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.

Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:

Keeping the Faith
Moral renovation
Conversions of non-Catholics

The Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.

First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).

Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.

Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.

Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).