We again thank you for making our Respect Life Movie Night such a big success! We had almost 100 attendees, and we can honestly say that we were all moved by Blessed Mother Teresa’s example of showing Christ’s love to those too often shunned by society. During this Jubilee Year and given the news of her upcoming canonization, let us all look to her example of mercy in action.
“This film was the winner of the 2014 Sedona International Film Festival’s Audience Award and follows Sister Teresa’s early consecrated life as a teacher in a school run by the Loreto Sisters – showing how, through the poor outside the windows of the convent, God called her and how she answered his call.
Mother’s deep faith expressed in loving service, eventually attracted the world’s attention, but even though she was sought after by the media and honored by world leaders, never for a moment did she use the spotlight for herself. Rather, she mingled the world’s spotlight with the light of Christ and then focused it on the human dignity of the poor and the humanity of the unborn child.
In 1993, during a visit to the United States, while attending the congressional prayer breakfast in Washington DC, Mother Teresa challenged our nation when she said: “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want.” She wanted nothing from the world, except respect for all human life and the resources to serve the poor.
(…) In Houston, we are fortunate to have a small presence of four Sisters of Charity, who provide a homeless shelter to care for pregnant women and their babies. Our SJV Gabriel Project donates baby items, diapers, blankets, etc., for the mothers who are living there. Because the Sisters of Charity live so simply and humbly, they do not allow us to bring too many items to these women. Only the very basic necessities!
We invited the sisters to attend the movie this evening, but as Mother Ahnucella explained to us, they do not go out to any events unless it is to serve the poor or for a special occasion Mass. After watching the movie, we understand why these sisters are so committed to helping the poor and lovingly serve the less fortunate ones in their communities.
“Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You, as You deserve; to give, and not count the cost; to fight, and not to heed the wounds; to toil, and not seek for rest; to labor, and not to ask for reward.”
In memory of the four Sisters of Charity murdered in Yemen on March 4, 2016, this is the prayer that these women prayed every morning, before leaving their home assisting dozens of elderly and sick people within their midst.”
An excerpt from the introduction by Diane Davis, Coordinator of Respect Life Ministry at SJV