Kolkata to mark Mother Teresa centenary

(July 15, 2010) The West Bengal state government and civic groups have joined the Church to celebrate the late Blessed Mother Teresa’s 100th birthday with a program that includes prayer meetings, an art show and a drawing competition. The program will start on August 26, her birth anniversary, and conclude with nine days of prayer commencing September 5, her death anniversary. The three-day Mother Teresa International Film Festival will be launched on August 26 at the state film centre, Nandan. Films on the Mother from 18 countries will be screened, said festival director Sunil Lucas. UNESCO is co-hosting the festival, which is organized by Calcutta archdiocese and the World Catholic Association for Communication (SIGNIS), Lucas said. Two painters, Ritu Singh and Sunita Kumar, also plan to exhibit their special series on Blessed Teresa as well as rare photographs of the nun. The Missionaries of Charity, the congregation Blessed Teresa started, will celebrate the centenary with year-long prayers and charity programs, said Sister Lynn Mascarenhas. The congregation’s houses across the world are preparing the poor, children, the sick and elderly for the centenary with prayers and film shows, said the MC nun. The celebrations are an “opportunity to highlight the great communicator called Mother Teresa and her mission,” said Jesuit Father Joseph Pymbellykunnel, director of the Calcutta archdiocesan communication centre. She was “so articulate” about the Christian mission, “which is to present Jesus to the world through what we say and do,” he said.