Near the Cross with Mary - Bishop Scott McCaig

Bishop Scott's inspiration comes from Saint Teresa of Calcutta who found herself next to the Cross and by Our Lady's side, in an apparition in 1947. As a result of this event, she often exhorted "With great love and trust, stand with Our Lady near the Cross. What a gift of God!" Saint Teresa's promise that 

"if we stand with Our Lady, she will give us her spirit of loving trust, total surrender, and cheerfulness."

From a letter written on the day of her death –

1. “Loving trust and total surrender made Our Lady say ‘yes’ to the message of the angel. And cheerfulness made her run in haste to serve her cousin Elizabeth. That is so much our life: saying ‘yes’ to Jesus and running in haste to serve him in the poorest of the poor. Let us keep very close to Our Lady and she will make that same spirit grow in each of us.”

2. “Pray especially to Our Blessed Mother Mary, placing all your intentions into her hands. For she loves you as she loves her Son. She will guide you in all your relationships so that peace may fill your life.”

3. “Let us ask Our Lady, in a very special way: Mary, mother of Jesus, be a mother to each of us, that we, like you, may be pure in heart, that we, like you, love Jesus; that we, like you, serve the poorest for we are all poor. First, let us love our neighbors and so fulfill God’s desire that we become carriers of his love and compassion.”

4. “Mary is our mother, the cause of our joy. Being a mother, I have never had difficulty in talking with Mary and feeling close to her.”

 A few other Words from Mother Teresa on Mary

5... She never feared to proclaim Jesus her son. At Calvary we see her standing upright – the mother of God, standing next to the cross. What a deep faith she must have had because of her love for her son! To see him dishonored, unloved, an object of hatred. Yet, she stayed upright.”

6 “How much we need Mary to teach us what it means to satiate God’s Thirsting Love for us, which Jesus came to reveal to us. She did it so beautifully. Yes, Mary allowed God to take possession of her life by her purity, her humility, and her faithful love…Let us seek to grow, under the guidance of our Heavenly Mother…”

7 “If we stand with Our Lady, she will give us her spirit of loving trust, total surrender, and

 cheerfulness.

My brother Jimmy painted this beautiful image of Mother Teresa years ago

when he was living in Toronto. He met Mother Teresa as she was getting out of a taxi I believe and their eyes locked. I can't remember the exact circumstances... She might have dropped something and he picked it up: not sure but I believe their encounter was the inspiration for the painting which he gave to me. I was so excited!!!

Mother Teresa: No Greater Love premieres in Ontario, Nov. 2

MOTHER TERESA: NO GREATER LOVE, 

The newest documentary film from the Knights of Columbus will be premiered in Ontario theatres this Nov. 2 and 3 (Waterloo, Kingston, London, Orleans, Kitchener, St. Catharines, Kanata, Whitby and Caledon).

The film premiered in the U.S. earlier this month and was a smashing box-office success. In fact, it earned more than $1.2 million in ticket sales and Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly announced (read it here) that the Knights would allocate all of the revenue it receives from ticket sales to charitable purposes and efforts that advance the legacy of Mother Teresa.

The documentary was released to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s passing. Not only is the film – and its main protagonists – inspiring, but it also features Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, a native of Winnipeg, Sr. Bernice (based in Toronto) who explains how he and Mother dodged bullets repeatedly to build bridges with criminals and it was co-directed by a Canadian from Oshawa.

The documentary is sure to inspire – especially the youth who may not know that much about Mother and the religious communities her work inspired.

The trailer – and more information – is available here: https://www.motherteresamovie.com/. 

If you wish to watch the documentary before November 2, please contact 

Dalia Esposito

Torchia Communications

514-654-2635

dalia@torchiacom.com and she will send you a private screening link immediately. 

Knowledgeable persons who were intimately involved with the production of the film:

Father Brian Kolodiejchuk (featured in the film), a member of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, has spent the past 17 years gathering evidence and data to make the case for Mother Teresa to be declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

David Naglieri (director) - David is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and television producer. He is renowned for his 2016 feature-length documentary: Liberating a Continent; John Paul II and the Fall of Communism, which earned five Emmy nominations. He previously worked at Salt + Light Media, before joining the Knights in New Haven, Connecticut.

Marc Boudignon (co-director) – Marc is an accomplished director who has worked with the Knights of Columbus on numerous projects and, previously, at Salt + Light Media. He is based out of Oshawa, Ont.

We are hopeful both Catholics and well beyond – will show up in large numbers and demonstrate to cinema landlords and others in the community that we, Catholics in Canada, are a (loving) force in the community...and that we’re happy to play a part in the promotion of charity (and life) for the benefit of all!