FRAMINGHAM -- The Society for the Propagation of the Faith in Boston is hosting a premier showing of the film "The Young Messiah" open to individuals and parish and ministry groups at the AMC Framingham 16 theatre on March 10.

Made possible by Motive Entertainment, the promoters of "The Passion of the Christ," all 16 of the theatres screens will show the film. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the film will begin at 7:00 p.m.

"The Young Messiah" tells the story of Jesus' childhood, tracing the Holy Family's journey from Alexandria, Egypt to Nazareth in Israel.

In a statement endorsing the film, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley said it allows viewers to"figuratively walk with Jesus as he comes to understand that he is the Son of God, set apart from all others to fulfill the promise of salvation for mankind."

While admission is free, advanced registration is required, and those who attend are asked to consider making a donation to the Society for the Propagation of Faith to help children in the missions around the world.

"When you give us $5, you can potentially feed 25 kids for a day in a country like Uganda, and when you give us $25, then you've bought a couple of textbooks for kids in Ecuador, and when you give us $50, then you've bought some medicine for HIV orphans in Zambia," said Maureen Heil, the director of Programs and Development of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Heil explained that Motive Entertainment contacted the Society for the Propagation of the Faith about the premier, offering it as a fundraiser to support the organization's work with the missions.

She said, Motive "thought that our work with children in the missions basically was kind of a fulfillment of the message of the movie, and so they offered to do this theatre buyout for us so that we could hold a fundraiser for the missions... we feel really luck that they chose us."

Individuals who wish to attend the premier can register at www.propfaithboston.org. Groups, ministries, or parishes should email the Propagation of the Faith's representative and Motive Entertainment liaison, Nicole Lataif at nicolel@motivemarketing.biz.