Kolkata, India, Aug 26, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Hundreds of people streamed by the marble tomb of the beloved Blessed Teresa of Kolkata yesterday to lay gifts of wreaths and flowers, and to pray on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of her birth.
Archbishop of Kolkata Henry D'Souza celebrated a 6 a.m. mass yesterday in honor of Mother Teresa at the motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity, reported Indo-Asian News Service.
"Mother Teresa remains our guiding force and we continue the work started by her," said Sister Christie, among the poorest of the poor – the orphans, the dying and the lepers.
Last October, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa, who died in 1997. The Missionaries of Charity are looking forward to the day when Mother Teresa is made a saint, but there is no indication yet of a second miracle, which would is required for canonization.
Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1949. Fifty-five years later, the order now operates 720 charitable centres in 132 countries and is considered to be the fastest growing in the Catholic Church.