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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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