By Issac Harold Gomes
2nd October 2016, 3 pm: Netaji Indoor Stadium Kolkata: It was at this memorable venue the Archdiocese of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity organised a Thanksgiving Eucharist to profoundly thank the Almighty for the Crowning Glory of Sainthood on Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Today coincides with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a messenger of peace. Both International Icons are Indians – Gandhi by birth and Mother by choice to dedicate her life for the poor and the marginalized.
It was very solemn and yet moving Eucharist with the Apostolic Nuncio Salvatore Pennacchio being the Main Celebrant along with 3 Cardinals (Cardinals Telesphore Toppo, Baselios Cleemis and George Allencherry), 49 Archbishops and Bishops and a large number of priests. The Eucharist began with a sprightly welcome dance by nimble-footed young girls wearing traditional costumes and delicately balancing earthen pots on their heads. The 10000 plus audience got instantly involved, thanks to the crisp introduction by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, and a very touching homily by the Nuncio. The well-oiled choir brought life to the Holy Eucharist and it was only fitting that all the Choirmasters were handsomely praised for their painstaking efforts.
After the Mass, there was a 15-minute break. At 5.15 pm the audience stood up to welcome the the Chief Guest Vice President Mr Hamid Ansari, his wife and the Guest of Honour, Mr K.N. Tripathi, the Governor of West Bengal, to the accompaniment of the National Anthem. They were felicitated by the Archbishop and Sr Prema Superior General of Missionaries of Charity. Then, TMC Rajyasabha MP Mr Derek O'Brien said that Sr Prema and her MC sisters are wonderful people. He also mentioned that the Nuncio could make very good coffee and got a statue of Mother Teresa installed in his Delhi garden two years ahead of Kolkata, before Mother was declared a saint.
After this the Vice President Mr Hamid Ansari waxed eloquent on the Mother. He said when Mr Derek invited him to be the Chief Guest at today's civic function, he readily accepted. He described Mother Teresa as a Talisman of Compassion, love and care. Her love for the needy, the sick and the downtrodden was boundless, cutting across caste, creed and religious divide. He recalled what the Mother said "What the poor need most is to feel needed, to feel loved. There are remedies and treatments for all kinds of illnesses, but when someone is undesirable, if there are no serving hands and loving hearts, there is no hope for a true cure". From a humble beginning with 12 nuns, the Missionaries of Charity now has 5500 nuns and volunteers spread over 139 countries. Mother's simplicity and utmost humility is what truly exemplifies her as a true Indian.
Sister Prema thanked Kolkatans for their wonderful spirit. She recollected 19 years ago, the same venue had bade a tearful farewell to Mother Teresa. And today Kolkatans gathered to give thanks to the Lord for crowning Mother Teresa with sainthood. She thanked all the dignitaries and Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee and her Government for unstinted support to make the Canonisation Celebration a success. She had special words of thanks for Archbishop Thomas D'Souza and his members of the Core Committee. She ended: "Indeed we have much to thank God for."
There was a short cultural programme by girls from St Xavier’s College and from Mother Teresa’s centre. Calcutta Youth Choir also put up a couple of songs.
As Derek O’Brien said: “Let us strive to be 1% of St. Teresa of Calcutta.”
2nd October 2016, 3 pm: Netaji Indoor Stadium Kolkata: It was at this memorable venue the Archdiocese of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity organised a Thanksgiving Eucharist to profoundly thank the Almighty for the Crowning Glory of Sainthood on Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Today coincides with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a messenger of peace. Both International Icons are Indians – Gandhi by birth and Mother by choice to dedicate her life for the poor and the marginalized.
It was very solemn and yet moving Eucharist with the Apostolic Nuncio Salvatore Pennacchio being the Main Celebrant along with 3 Cardinals (Cardinals Telesphore Toppo, Baselios Cleemis and George Allencherry), 49 Archbishops and Bishops and a large number of priests. The Eucharist began with a sprightly welcome dance by nimble-footed young girls wearing traditional costumes and delicately balancing earthen pots on their heads. The 10000 plus audience got instantly involved, thanks to the crisp introduction by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, and a very touching homily by the Nuncio. The well-oiled choir brought life to the Holy Eucharist and it was only fitting that all the Choirmasters were handsomely praised for their painstaking efforts.
After the Mass, there was a 15-minute break. At 5.15 pm the audience stood up to welcome the the Chief Guest Vice President Mr Hamid Ansari, his wife and the Guest of Honour, Mr K.N. Tripathi, the Governor of West Bengal, to the accompaniment of the National Anthem. They were felicitated by the Archbishop and Sr Prema Superior General of Missionaries of Charity. Then, TMC Rajyasabha MP Mr Derek O'Brien said that Sr Prema and her MC sisters are wonderful people. He also mentioned that the Nuncio could make very good coffee and got a statue of Mother Teresa installed in his Delhi garden two years ahead of Kolkata, before Mother was declared a saint.
After this the Vice President Mr Hamid Ansari waxed eloquent on the Mother. He said when Mr Derek invited him to be the Chief Guest at today's civic function, he readily accepted. He described Mother Teresa as a Talisman of Compassion, love and care. Her love for the needy, the sick and the downtrodden was boundless, cutting across caste, creed and religious divide. He recalled what the Mother said "What the poor need most is to feel needed, to feel loved. There are remedies and treatments for all kinds of illnesses, but when someone is undesirable, if there are no serving hands and loving hearts, there is no hope for a true cure". From a humble beginning with 12 nuns, the Missionaries of Charity now has 5500 nuns and volunteers spread over 139 countries. Mother's simplicity and utmost humility is what truly exemplifies her as a true Indian.
Sister Prema thanked Kolkatans for their wonderful spirit. She recollected 19 years ago, the same venue had bade a tearful farewell to Mother Teresa. And today Kolkatans gathered to give thanks to the Lord for crowning Mother Teresa with sainthood. She thanked all the dignitaries and Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee and her Government for unstinted support to make the Canonisation Celebration a success. She had special words of thanks for Archbishop Thomas D'Souza and his members of the Core Committee. She ended: "Indeed we have much to thank God for."
There was a short cultural programme by girls from St Xavier’s College and from Mother Teresa’s centre. Calcutta Youth Choir also put up a couple of songs.
As Derek O’Brien said: “Let us strive to be 1% of St. Teresa of Calcutta.”
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