New Mother Teresa documentary features musical score by Crestline resident

Sept. 5 marks the 25th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death, and a new documentary film, "Mother Teresa: No Greater Love," will show in theaters nationwide to honor the beloved Catholic saint.

The world premiere took place on Aug. 31 at the Vatican in Rome and the documentary will be shown in U.S. theaters for two days only, Oct. 3 and 4, through a partnership with Fathom Events.

“The North American premiere is Sept. 11 at the John Paul II shrine in Washington, DC, which is operated by the Knights of Columbus," said Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk, a priest in the congregation Mother Teresa founded in 1950, Missionaries of Charity. "It’ll be during the Mother Teresa anniversary weekend at Catholic University of America.” (See motherteresainstitute.org for details.)

"Mother Teresa: No Greater Love" has a local connection, as Crestline resident Sean Beeson composed the musical score.

“It was a challenge to compose the musical score,” said Beeson, who has scored hundreds of projects from video game music to films. “She wasn't one to seek the limelight, so the typical big, sweeping, grand orchestral sounds weren't quite the right fit for her life's story.

“As I began to write the music, I realized it needed to be simple and humble, reflecting how she lived and how she worked," Beeson said. "She was working for God and didn’t care if anyone saw.”

Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 at age 87, was canonized a saint on Sept. 4, 2016. She lived a simple life and her congregation requires men and women to take evangelical vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

"There’s a very deep and profound holiness to Mother Teresa," said Kolodiejchuk. “Those people that are middle aged and above, they remember about Mother Teresa and what she was. One of the purposes of making the documentary is to bring knowledge of Mother Teresa and what the MC (Missionaries of Charity) family does and bring it into a new generation.”

Knights of Columbus produced the film

"We entered into a conversation with the Missionaries of Charity about producing a movie about Mother," said Jonathan Reyes, PhD, senior vice president for Communications and Strategic Partnerships at Knights of Columbus. “We were honored to be asked to help."

"We had a wonderful relationship with Mother Teresa," noted Reyes. "We made this movie as an act of love and a way to honor Mother. She changed the world."

Mother Teresa is remembered for serving others, regardless of their circumstance.

"One of the pillars of the Knights of Columbus is charity; caring for the most vulnerable is part of who we are,” said Reyes. “The gift of Mother Teresa's vision is that it leads to a reaffirmation of the dignity of the human being. It’s how we as Knights have performed acts of charity for 140 years, person to person. What Pope Francis called, 'encounter;' This way of seeing will direct people to their neighbors. I think this film is going to inspire our guys, strengthen their conviction, for what we've been doing for 140 years."

Mother Teresa 'gave us the perfect example'

Beeson said he believes the documentary could have an enduring and important impact on viewers.

“I hope that the documentary will compel the people in the area to care for others like Mother Teresa would," he said. "When she went to a new mission, she would do things no one else wanted to do, like clean toilets. Mother Teresa said, wash the plate, not because it is dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next."

Beeson notes that Mother Teresa first focused on those in need who were near her.

“Mother Teresa didn’t initially set out to solve world hunger but started with local people in need," said Beeson. "One thing her life constantly reminds me of is that we have the possibility to live and love as a saint. She gave us the perfect example.”

Mother Teresa is still teaching the world lessons

“One purpose of making this documentary is to remember or learn about Mother Teresa; the hope is, once they see it, they will say, ‘that was very moving, now, what should I do?,'" said Kolodiejchuk, the postulant or advocate of Mother Teresa’s canonization and path to sainthood.

"'No Greater Love' is an opportunity for Mother Teresa to reach and inspire a new generation. She has already changed so many lives. I am very hopeful she will change many more," said Reyes. “Mother Teresa has taught us a different way to see the world; it goes beyond just solving social problems and requires that we really see people for their infinite worth. I think people are losing the ability to see the worth of one another in this polarized age.”

“When Mother Teresa spoke in public, she used to say you don't need to go to Calcutta to find the poor," stated Kolodiejchuk. "But all can do ordinary things with extraordinary love. Do something as simple as read the newspaper to someone or even a smile. Many people are living lonely lives.”

“After the beatification, we started the Mother Teresa Center and now the Mother Teresa Institute," he added. "It’s a resource for people studying Mother Teresa. There are a good number of people doing master’s and doctoral dissertations, and we want to encourage more study.”

Mother Teresa’s missionary spirit will live on forever, Kolodiejchuk said.

“The charism — that is, our spirituality and mission — is, first of all, a gift of the Holy Spirit. It came through Mother Teresa," said Kolodiejchuk. "Each member participates in the charism. If it were a human thing, it would collapse. But since it’s the Holy Spirit, it’s strong and will endure.”

He said the modern saint offers us a final lesson.

“Do small things with great love. Love gives the value to the deed. Since God is infinite, nothing you can do is small,” Kolodiejchuk added.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Crestline resident composes music for new Mother Teresa documentary