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Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity are synonymous. Both are household
names throughout the world and her congregation of the Missionaries of Charity is
devoted to help the sick and dying...
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The Beginning |
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In the year 1948 there came to the city of Calcutta in India a small, frail nun
dressed in a white and blue sari. Mother Teresa was soon to become the idol of countless
generations of the poor and disinherited. Devoting herself selflessly to the tending
of the sick and needy, Mother Teresa went on to establish the congregation of the
Missionaries of Charity, which has houses in 133 countries of the world all dedicated
to alleviating the sufferings of the poorest of the poor. From just Mother Teresa
in 1948, the organisation has grown to hundreds of vocational sisters whose mission
it is to labour for the salvation of the downtrodden. Although Mother Teresa is
no more, her spirit lives on with the Missionaries of Charity.
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Mother Teresa |
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Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born at Skopje on August 26th 1910. She decided at the
age of 18 that she was born to serve God and Jesus and joined the convent of Our
Lady of Loreto in Dublin. Agnes adopted the name of Teresa from St. Therese of Lisieux
and took her vows in 1931. In 1937 Mother Teresa finally reached the city of her
dreams, Calcutta and joined St. Mary's High School.
But her destiny led her to the slums of Calcutta and in 1948 Pope Pious XII granted
her leave to establish a congregation of sisters to care for the miserable denizens
of the slums. And Missionaries of Charity was born. Hundreds and thousands of poor
have lived to thank their saviour for her untiring efforts on their behalf and Mother
Teresa is regarded by the Calcuttans as second only to God. (Read
more about Mother Teresa in our Guru Section.)
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Spreading the work of God |
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When she established her domain in Calcutta Mother Teresa could not have dreamt
that her charitable work would grow to be so widespread and popular. From the dark
continent Africa to the republics of South America, the United States, Canada, Russia
and of course the country of origin India, now the Missionaries of Charity have
133 houses in all parts of the globe.
In North America there are houses at New York, San Francisco and Miami while South
America has centres at Mexico and Brazil. The other countries where one can find
the organisation are Kenya, Italy, France, England, Russia, Albania, Hong Kong,
Australia and Sri Lanka.
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A Vast Network |
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Missionaries of Charity was put under the control of the papacy by Pope Paul VI
in 1965 and since then the order has expanded to include many branches. The active
sisters were established as early as 1950 followed by the contemplative sisters
in 1976. Active brothers, contemplative brothers and father missionaries came into
being between 1963 and 1966. Volunteers have been a part of the organisation since
1950 and the lay missionaries joined them as late as 1989. The only branch to close
down has been the sick and suffering co-workers, begun in 1969 and ended in 1997.
With such a widespread network the Missionaries of Charity can spread Mother Teresa's
message far and wide.
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Training |
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Once they become a part of the congregation the sisters undergo intensive training
so that they can serve the people with truth and dedication. The training stretches
over a period of six years and is as follows:
Aspirancy - six months.
Postulancy - one year.
Noviciate - two years at the end of which the vows are taken.
Juniorate - five years
Tertianship - one year at the end of which the sister goes home for three weeks
so she can decide whether she really wants to spend the rest of her life as a missionary
of charity. The service is entirely voluntary and the girls who join do so of their
own free will.
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Houses of Charity
For the dying… |
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Although Mother Teresa had compassion for all forms of suffering she made some of
them her very own. The dying in the streets of Calcutta were the first to attract
her attention and care. One of the earliest foundations she formed was Nirmal Hriday
the home for the dying. No wonder she is even called "Saint of the gutter".
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For the Orphans... |
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Helplessness always held a special appeal for Mother especially unwanted children.
She waged a constant battle against abortion and established Shishu Bhavan, a home
for abandoned babies.
For the Lepers...
The world will always remember Mother Teresa for her untiring work in bringing succour
to lepers who were treated as outcasts by society at large. At Shanti Nagar the
lepers found a place where they could live and work in peace and lived to bless
the name of Mother Teresa.
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For AIDS victims… |
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When AIDS first made its appearance in the 80's Mother was one of the foremost to
recognise the need to have a place where the patients could be looked after and
provided with some relief from their illness. From providing food and shelter to
the homeless to rehabilitation of prisoners, the Missionaries of Charity do it all.
Truly they have been the angels of mercy to many.
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Clothing required |
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Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Calcutta generally has humid and warm climate throughout
the year. However, during winters the city tends to get a little nippy for which
one is advised to carry light woollens. The best time to go is the winters as well
as spring. The monsoon months are extremely wet and it is better not to go there
in the rainy season.
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How to reach |
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The city of Calcutta is well connected by road, train and air with all major cities
in India and abroad. Once in Calcutta you can either hire a cab or else use the
public transport system, which includes buses and the underground rail called the
metro. The ashram does not provide lodging and boarding facilities.
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Contact Information |
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The Missionaries of Charity is situated at:
54 A,
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road,
Calcutta - 700 016
Ph: 091-33-2452277 and 091-33-249 1400
The other important centres in India are the Missionaries of Charity and Nirmala
Shishu Bhavan (their adoption centre) at Bangalore, to whom you can write to at:
Missionarities of Charity
Next to Rosary Church
Venkatala Village
Yellanka Post
Bangalore 560064
Phone: 091-80- 8460074
and
Nirmala Shishu Bhavan
25, Ashoka Road
St Thomas Town
Bangalore-560 084
Phone: 091-80-5474993
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- Sujata S
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