by Fr Johny Nedungatt, SDB
As the world came together on the day of the canonization of Mother Teresa to recognize her great humanitarian work and her Christ like presence from the capital of the world through conflict-ridden countries like Yemen to the Far East, twenty-five Salesians from communities of the city and its suburbs gathered at the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity where her body is entombed.
Introducing the Eucharist, celebrated next to the tomb of Mother, the provincial said: “the Salesians of Kolkata join you to thank God and rejoice with you for the gift of Mother Teresa to the city of Kolkata, to the country, to the Church, and to the world”. The city based Salesians were representing the feelings of the Salesian India which has numerous centres where Salesians have close collaboration with her sisters.
In his homily Fr Provincial spoke of his personal encounter with Mother which was soon after his ordination in 1989. When Mother asked his name, the provincial replied, “Nirmol”. Immediately she responded “Live up to your name – simple”. Linking this experience with his encounter with St John Paul II he said, “When I met the pope I told him that I am from Kolkata and he replied immediately, Be faithful as Mother Teresa is faithful”. Referring to the deep personal spiritual contact which Mother had with Jesus he spoke of the response of Mother to those who questioned the long hours her sisters spend in prayer. She had this to tell them, “If they fail to recognize Jesus in that frail bread, they will not recognize Jesus in the rotten flesh.”
The Provincial then invited the Salesians to share their experience of meeting with Mother.
As the Eucharist concluded Fr Provincial thanked Sr Lysa, the Assistant Superior General who made the arrangements for the spiritual gathering.
Later in the day Fr Mathew Parakonath, former director of Don Bosco Ashalyam, who had 17 years of regular and very personal contact with Mother Teresa spoke in glowing terms of the deeply personal interest she showed in the Salesian presence with young people in the streets and railway platforms of Kolkata. She sent nearly 200 children, totally orphaned, picked up from the streets and elsewhere, to the Salesians at Ashalayam, Kolkata. This shows the close collaboration the Salesians had with Mother and her sisters. Many of these kids have settled down well in life with families, working in such places as consulates, hospitality industry, and in the social sector. Speaking of celebrating Christmas with Mother, Father Mathew recalled how she would wait eagerly during Christmas time for the kids from Ashalayam to visit her.
Such was the heart of Mother for the poor in the street.
