The Missionaries of Charity yesterday launched a year of programs to celebrate the birth centenary of their founder, Blessed Teresa of Kolkata. “Mother Teresa’s birth centenary begins today,” declared retired Archbishop Henry D’Souza of Calcutta while celebrating the birth anniversary Mass at the MC motherhouse chapel.
Sr Mary Prema, who heads the congregation, said the celebrations would conclude on Aug. 26, 2010.
During the centenary year, “the best gift we can all prepare for Mother’s 100th birthday is our sincere endeavor to be channels of God’s love and peace to the poor,” she told the gathering.
Blessed Teresa was born Gonxha Bojaxhiu on Aug. 26, 1910, in what is now Macedonia. She became known around the world as Mother Teresa by “dedicating her life totally to God and serving the poorest of the poor, doing small things with great love and recognizing the dignity of a child of God in every person,” Sister Prema explained.
The MC superior general also said that when people experience God’s love, they want to share it with others in various ways. Blessed Teresa inspired many by loving all people, she added.
“Maybe there is someone in our families who is lonely, unloved or in need of forgiveness, so beginning at home we can become a channel of love for them today,” Sister Prema said.
The example of Blessed Teresa remains relevant, she affirmed, because the poor remain marginalized. “Mother taught us to give them the dignity of human beings, which is of significant need today and will always be needed.”
After Mass, participants visited Blessed Teresa’s tomb and sang “Happy Birthday” while photographers vied for position.
Blessed Teresa was born in Skopje to Nikola and Dranafile Bojaxhiu as the youngest of three children. She came to Kolkata, then Calcutta, as a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto nuns) on Jan. 6, 1929, and founded the MC congregation on Oct. 7, 1950.
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