US celebrations to mark Mother Teresa’s 100th birthday

New York City, N.Y., Aug 24, 2010 / 07:19 am

Numerous celebrations across the globe will mark the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s birth on Aug. 26. Masses and memorial displays have been scheduled to honor the life of the servant to the poor of Calcutta.

Blue and white, the colors of the Missionaries of Charity, will be displayed at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast. Other events will take place in countries like Switzerland, Bulgaria and Albania, the famous sister’s birthplace.

The entire skyline of Miami, including the landmark Miami Tower, will be cast in blue and white. The Peace Bridge between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario will light up in Bl. Teresa of Calcutta’s honor, as will Buffalo’s Electric Tower.

Many Catholic churches in the U.S. will display blue and white ribbons. Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas will officially mark her birth by lighting some of its buildings in blue and by naming its new nursing and health education building for the sister.

In New York City, the Hutchinson Metro Center in the Bronx will shine in blue and white, as will the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Billboards in Times Square will shine blue while Hoboken will show posters of Mother Teresa in several venues, the Catholic League reports.

Some controversy resulted from the Empire State Building’s refusal of the Catholic League’s request to honor Mother Teresa’s birth in its lighting scheme.

The Catholic League will hold a rally in front of the famous building at 6 p.m. on Aug. 26 and has invited Catholics and non-Catholics to attend. It asks attendees to wear blue and white.