April 23, 2017

Berkshire couple to be featured in documentary, ‘In the Name of Miracles’

NATIONAL
By Michelle Laque Johnson, Special to iObserve

Filmmakers know a story when they hear it. So when filmmaker/producer Elizabeth Wilda was asked to meet with Maureen and Bob Digan, she immediately agreed.

After all, as Sister Ruth McGoldrick of the Sisters of Providence had explained to her, Maureen Digan, who suffered from
who suffered from Milroy’s lymphedema, had been cured after praying in front of St. Faustina’s tomb at the behest of her husband Bob. In addition, after that same visit, her invalid son Bobby was partially healed. 

However, for a filmmaker, a good story is only one part of the equation. As she delved into it, Wilda quickly realized that, from a worldly perspective, the decision to film Maureen and Bob Digan’s story was, “nuts.” At least, that’s what Wilda’s husband told her.

For one thing, Wilda had a busy full-time job at the University of Massachusetts, where she had already filmed a number of historical documentaries. Her projects included one on the Sisters of Providence, from whom she got the introduction to the Digans, and one on Catholic sisters in America, which was shown on public television. So she didn’t have a lot of time on her hands.

Even worse, there was no budget. How was she supposed to finance this venture which would ultimately result in the documentary, “In the Name of Miracles?” Despite significant obstacles, Wilda obviously decided to take the project on.

“I met Maureen and Bob and fell in love with them,” she said. “They are great people. I also met Father Tony, who was Maureen’s spiritual director. He’s at Mount Holyoke (College), which is 15 minutes from me.”

But, of course, liking her subjects is only one part of the answer. It was the Lord who put this project on her heart, she said; it was the Lord who took her on what she now calls a seven-year faith journey.

“I didn’t know much about the Divine Mercy devotion before this,” she said. “I thought it was for Polish people. But I loved what I learned. I fell in love with Faustina. It’s enriched my life so much. I’m very grateful to God for the whole process.”

And what a process it was. The reason it took seven long years to get the documentary made was because Wilda had to do all the filming “on the side.”

“Whenever I had the time, I’d go film something,” she said. “I had purchased a basic music library that was copyright free so I could use that. And Bob had tons of family photos, which I scanned and used.”

As she worked, Wilda began to see that the resulting documentary, “A Time for Miracles,” was, above all, a love story.

“It’s a love story on many levels,” she said, “It’s a love story about God, and a love story with Bob and Maureen. Bob – I think his faith is so rock solid that it’s inspiring. Maureen has a beautiful outlook, such a sparkle about her; she’s inspiring too. I want to let people know that nothing’s impossible. We have a wonderful God and all things are possible. It’s never hopeless.”

Wilda also began to understand on a deeper level than ever before what she calls “the big thing – that God loves everyone.”

Wilda also began reading everything she could about St. Faustina. “I can’t get over what an amazing woman she was and how open to the spirit. With what little education she had, the beautiful writing of her ‘Diary’ is extraordinary. You can’t help but be inspired by it.”

As she learned more and more about the Divine Mercy devotion, Wilda’s sense of purpose grew. She realized, she said, that the devotion is more important now than ever. In fact, she believes the Lord meant it for a time such as the present one.

“Just looking at the darkness in the world today – people need hope,” she said. “I want to let people know that nothing’s impossible. We have a wonderful God and all things are possible. It’s never hopeless.”

EWTN will air “In the Name of Miracles” at 1:30 p.m. ET, on Sunday, April 30.