The Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charity commemorated Mother Teresa’s 113th birthday on Saturday. She is now known as St. Teresa of Kolkata.
Mother Teresa of Kolkata (now known as St. Teresa of Kolkata) established the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order within the Catholic Church, in 1950. No matter their social standing, religious beliefs, or skin color, the community is committed to helping the most vulnerable members of society. It is renowned for making a positive difference in the lives of some of society’s most vulnerable citizens, such as elderly individuals, abandoned children, and persons with physical or mental problems.
On the occasion of the Mother’s birth anniversary, Missionaries of Charity members lit lights on Saturday and recited prayers.
Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha on August 26, 1910. Her family was from Albania. In October 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Vatican to start “The Missionaries of Charity”, whose primary task was to love and care for those who had been abandoned by others. The order started its operations in Kolkata.
The Society of Missionaries of Charity then spread all over the world. They provide help to the poorest of the poor in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and they undertake relief work in the wake of natural catastrophes such as floods and epidemics, and work for refugees.
Mother Teresa was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She asked the jury to contribute the prize money towards helping the poor in India. In September 2017, Mother Teresa was declared Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Kolkata (then Calcutta) by the Pope for her selfless service towards helping the underprivileged. Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 was accorded a state funeral by the government in recognition of her services to the poor.
