India celebrates Mother Teresa’s birth centenary

(Aug.26, 2010) To celebrate the birth centenary of Blessed Mother Teresa on Thursday, August 26, commemorative events were held in many parts of India, including Kolkata in West Bengal State, where Mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity - MC, presided over by Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi. Over a thousand people attended, many standing outside the small chapel. At the conclusion of the Mass, MC Superior General Sr. Prema, and the former Superior General Sr. Nirmala, released white doves as a symbol of peace and compassion.
Earlier on Monday, (Aug. 23) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit launched the capital's centenary celebrations with a photographic exhibition on the life of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata by Indian photographer Ragu Rai. In her opening address Dikshit said "Mother Teresa was somebody extraordinary, a living goddess who taught us, we should not look for anything in return, if we want to work for the poor”.
The week-long exhibition is the first in a series of programs being organized by the church and the government to mark the nun's birth centenary. Other activities include a national symposium in New Delhi chaired by India’s President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and the government minting of a commemorative coin.