Mother Teresa's 13th death anniversary marked

(September 6, 2010) Hundreds of admirers of Mother Teresa of Kolkata gathered for a Mass at St Xavier's College ground in eastern Indian city of Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, on Sunday on the occasion of her 13th death anniversary. In the Church calendar, the day of her death is marked as her feast day, or the day of spiritual birth in heaven. "This is the birthday in heaven of Blessed Mother Teresa which we are celebrating today. This is in honour of the one who gave us a way of life based on the love of God and neighbour," said the main celebrant of the Mass, Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of Kolkata. Among those who concelebrated with him were the second secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to India, Fr Ricardo Jorge da Silva Cardoso, Bishop Cyprian Monis of Asansol, Bishop Joseph Gomes of Krishnagar, retired Archbishop of Kolkata Henry D'Souza, and over 60 priests from various dioceses. The superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, Sr Prema and her predecessor, Sr Nirmala were also present along with a large number of MC nuns, priests and brothers. In his reflection, Missionary of Charity priest Fr Brian Kolodeijchuk of Canada recalled that Mother Teresa was once asked by a journalist what message she would give to a hungry child in Ethiopia. "She answered: 'I would take the child in my arms, take him home, love him, feed him and tenderly take care of him.' This answer sums up Mother's life," said Fr Brian, the promoter of the sainthood cause of Mother Teresa. The saintly nun was born of Albanian parents on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, in what is the Macedonian capital today. She breathed her last on Sept. 5, 1997, at the headquarters of the MC congregation in Kolkata, where her tomb lies. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 2003, declaring her 'blessed.'