Cenacle was established in 2018 with an ambitious plan — to film the 8-part docuseries Messiah in nearly 30 of the most spiritually significant places on earth.  

Messiah creator Rick Rotondi brought a small band of 17 pilgrims and filmmakers to Jerusalem in October 2018, to pray, film…and form friendships to last a lifetime.  

For two pilgrims in particular, the experience was especially profound.

Rick was a Yankee who had grown up in the Boston area and France. Melanie was a Southern belle. Both were cradle Catholics who had spent a considerable portion of their lives and energies building the Faith. 

Rick's work had centered on publishing and filmmaking, including co-producing and co-writing the popular series Queen of Heaven.  Melanie was a homeschooling mother; a volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity in Charlotte and the Oratorians of Rock Hill; an advocate for the homeless;  a parish council member for America's largest parish, St. Matthew in Charlotte, NC; and a beekeeper who had taught thousands of students the importance of honeybees and how God's creative genius is revealed in nature.                           

In Jerusalem in 2018, Rick and Melanie began their collaboration on the set of Messiah.

In 2021 they married, on May 26th, the feast of St. Philip Neri. 

Today Rick and Melanie Rotondi help others experience the depth and excitement of the Bible through Cenacle.