WHEN Bethany Valente views her portrayal of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, on Australia’s first saint’s feast day, August 8, she will be feeling gratitude more than any other emotion.
Beyond feeling “thankful to God” for the chance to be asked by Shalom World Media to play the voluntary role, filmed mostly on her family’s property in Inglewood, in Toowoomba diocese, the 15-year-old told The Catholic Leader that God’s promptings to do so were “divine providence”.
“Portraying Mary MacKillop helped me become more docile to the workings of the Holy Spirit,” Miss Valente said.
“He asks of me more than I can expect but it’s never too much. It was and is such a humbling experience to be the one representing this great saint.”
The teen said if St Mary of the Cross “could do small things with great love,” then she too can “try a lot harder”.
Family friend, Fr Bony Abraham had a part to play himself, in suggesting Miss Valente for the role, filming taking place also in St Mary’s church, Warwick, towards the end of November last year, and finalised more recently, in May.
Miss Valente, along with her dad, Peter, who played the part of the father of Mary MacKillop, are both surprised the screening has come together so fluidly and admit it was a “challenge”.
“Sometimes it was hard to do a few takes of one scene,” the first-time actress said. “I tired quickly and there was a disruption to my normal routine, but I realised I needed to be completely present. It was challenging because it was so different. I said yes to this, and I needed to give myself completely. It was a challenge, and it was wonderful.”
Peter Valente said their family’s commitment, seeing all but one of eight had a role, was “very interesting”.
“One thing that motivated me was that most of those involved were volunteers,” he said.
“They make the sacrifice of time and money for this evangelisation project so who am I to complain about getting up early and learning lines, when all these people are part of a bigger purpose?”
Shalom Media’s Rasin Augustine confirmed that “the whole channel and its day-to-day running is completely owned by the providence of God”.
“There are numbers of selfless volunteers, those who had a great God experience and are highly enthusiastic to spreading the Good News to others, working behind-the-scenes too,” she said.
“They are contributing their time, energy, money, stills, talents in various capacities.”
The role of Bishop Joseph Shiel, who excommunicated Mary MacKillop in 1871, was played by Stanthorpe’s Dan Manahan.
He said the young people involved impacted his input.
“It was such a joy to be in the room with Bethany, and other young people, who wanted to do their absolute best,” Mr Manahan said.
“They were very passionate about their faith (in God).”
Teenager Vayda Heads of Stanthorpe, who played the role of another of the Sisters of St Joseph, said she enjoyed “embodying the Sisters’ strength, persistence and most importantly, Mary MacKillop’s trust in the Lord, especially in tough situations”.
Stanthorpe’s Gerry Purcell appreciated the opportunity to depict the part of co-founder of the Sisters of St Joseph, Fr Julian Tenison-Woods, describing him “a priest with a slight eccentricity”.
“I enjoyed the immersive experience of living amongst a saintly life, albeit through performance,” Mr Purcell said.
“I also learnt how she (Mary MacKillop) was venerated as a saint from the time of her death to today.”
All those involved were immersed in prayer, Miss Valente confirmed, saying, “There was prayer before a ‘take’, before cutting a costume … (and) always a thank you prayer”.
“I was constantly asking God to help me and asking (St) Mary MacKillop to help me portray her in a way that was true to her. My acting became an ongoing conversation with God. Even in a silent take, I was thinking, ‘God, this is for You’.”
The role has influenced Miss Valente’s discernment to a religious vocation.
“I believe I am called to religious life,” she said. “(And) I need to give myself as much as Mary MacKillop gave herself, to her vocation.”
The premiere of Glorious Lives on Australia’s St Mary of the Cross MacKillop is set for August 8 at 7pm on Shalom World TV at https://www.shalomworld.org/.
