Scottish Catholic Observer

A NEW film based on the life of one of the Church’s most well-known saints will hit the big screen next week.

Ignacio De Loyola tells the story of the 16th-century Spanish Catholic St Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, charting his journey from ‘brash, impulsive youth obsessed with women and sword-fighting to the masterful, charismatic leader of an order that would change the face of Christendom forever.’

The independent film, made by Jesuit Communications (JesCom) Philippines, will have its first UK showing following its London premiere in Vue Cinemas at the Glasgow Fort on Wednesday May 10 at 7pm.

All proceeds from the sale of tickets, which cost £10, will go towards the restoration fund of the Jesuit St Aloysius church on Glasgow’s Rose Street.

Craig Mathieson, who regularly attends St Aloysius Church, bought the licence rights to bring the film to Scotland, after coming up with the screening idea in order to boost the church’s restoration fund. Having seen the film, he thought it would be a novel way to raise funds that had a personal connection with the parish’s Jesuit history.

“St Ignatius was the founder of the Jesuits, so we thought what better thing to do than to bring a movie about the founder of the Jesuits to Glasgow?”

The film will be preceded by a short prayer session in the theatre led by the Jesuits, with audience members each given a prayer card featuring St Ignatius of Loyola, after which the film will be screened at 7:15pm.

They hope to show a second screening of the film in Edinburgh, to secure more funds, after St Aloysius’ parish was quoted a figure of £400,000 to fix the steeple, and raised £80,000 last year.

News of the film has also spread to Motherwell Diocese, where Fr Garry Maguinness, parish priest of St Ignatius in Wishaw, has arranged for a bus full of parishioners to go to the film’s Scottish premiere, due to the special connection the parish has with St Ignatius.