Mamata unveils Mother Teresa’s statue

The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went to Bishop’s House and unveiled a bronze statue of Mother Teresa on her 106th birth anniversary.

Banerjee who got the blessings of Mother Teresa said her service to mankind would continue to inspire people from all walks of life.

“She worked for the poorest of the poor and the needy and will continue to live in the hearts of thousands of people,” Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister will be visiting Vatican City in early September to attend her Canonisation ceremony.

Father Felix Raj, Principal St. Xavier’s College said he came in contact with the Mother way back in 1989 when he was preparing to become a priest, a member of the Society of Jesus. “Mother wanted to touch my feet as she saw Jesus in every human being,” he said and added that her sacrifice and selfless love had set an example globally and people used to come to see her and take her blessings.

Mother Teresa started her work in Kolkata. She worked among the poorest of the poor and the needy and looking after the homeless and destitute. She looked after the orphans and established a home for the aged in Kalighat.

A home was set up for the orphans on AJC Bose Road and a destitute home in Tangra. People from all over the globe used to come to see her. Students from different parts of the world still serve in the homes run by the Missionaries of Charity. Princess Diana came to see her.

Mother’s 106th birth anniversary was observed at the Mother’s House where a special prayer was held in the morning. Local people irrespective of caste, creed and religion who had received help from her still remembers her greatness and compassion for others. “Be cheerful and serve men as God” was her message to all.

Meanwhile, special thanksgiving prayers were organised to celebrate the Mother’s birth anniversary on Friday.

Prayers were held across the Missionaries of Charity centers and churches all over the state to mark the late Roman Catholic nun’s birth anniversary and to also commemorate her journey to sainthood on September 4.

The Missionaries have put up a special prayer card for faithfuls which says, “We thank you (Lord Jesus) for the gift of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, who will be canonised in this Jubilee Year of Mercy”.

In a message, Sister Prema, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, said with great joy we are looking forward to the celebrations of the Mother’s sainthood.

“It will be a moment when gathered around Mother we shall have an experience of universal family of the children of the one Heavenly Father. The difference of caste, creed, colour, rich, poor will not prevent us from rejoicing together in the honour bestowed on Mother,” said Prema who is already in Vatican.

“Mother is with God and as she promised us she continues to light the light of hope and peace in everyone’s heart,” she said, adding the sainthood of Mother inspires the people in Kolkata and all over the world to follow her example of untiring and humble services given to everyone.

Mamata Banerjee also paid her homage by tweeting, “My deepest respect on the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa.”