Once-Troubled Hollywood Actor Shia LaBeouf Joins Church, Now Considering Deaconship

In a bright development for the publicly troubled actor of “Transformers” fame, Shia LaBeouf has reportedly joined the Catholic faith and is allegedly on course to becoming a deacon at his local parish.

In a post to Facebook, The Capuchin Franciscan friars shared that LaBeouf had completed the sacrament of confirmation and joined the church.

They wrote,

“The Capuchin Franciscan friars are overjoyed to welcome him into the fold and witness his deep commitment to his faith journey.

Shia LaBeouf, known for his incredible talent and passion in the entertainment industry, has embarked on a profound spiritual journey that has led him to embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church. His decision to fully enter the Church is a testament to his sincere desire to grow in his relationship with God and live out the Gospel values.”

Speaking to Catholic News Agency, Capuchin friar Brother Alexander Rodriguez, LeBeouf’s sponsor, said that he wants to become a deacon “sometime in the future.” Rodriguez explained that when the actor worked on his recent film “Padre Pio” which followed the life of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, he began to entertain the idea.

“He just spontaneously said, ‘I want to become a deacon,’ and he still feels that way,” Rodriguez told CNA.

LaBeouf reportedly spent time training for his role at the Mission Santa Inés Parish in Solvang, California with Rodriguez, who also appeared in the film as a friar. In a lengthy interview with Bishop Robert Barron, the actor revealed that his on-screen portrayal of Padre Pio led him to the Catholic faith. Bishop Barron would later perform his confirmation sacrament.

Describing himself as agnostic before finding his faith in God, LaBeouf said that despite his successes on the big screen his life was in turmoil. Between allegations of physical abuse from his ex-girlfriend and a resultant lawsuit and estrangement from his mother, he told the Bishop that he had reached a near suicidal point of despair saying “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

He concluded by saying that he believes his eagerness to relaunch his film career was used by God to place him on a path to healing and finding peace.

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