_{PATRON SAINT. Archbishop Thomas D’Souza and Missionaries of Charity assistant superior general Sister Lysa hold a picture of the bronze statue of Mother Teresa, to be installed at the archbishop’s house, at an Aug. 19 press conference. Anto Akkara photo}

 

KOLKATA, India — The canonization of Mother Teresa scheduled for Sept. 4 at the Vatican is “the most-fitting moment” in the Year of Mercy and “an occasion for people in all walks of life to do something beautiful for God, as Mother Teresa did,” said Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Kolkata.

“Mother Teresa was an icon of mercy and compassion. It is the most opportune moment in the Year of Mercy that her canonization is taking place in this year,” Archbishop D’Souza told the Register in an interview at his office on Aug. 20.

“We are all fortunate and blessed that it is taking place now,” added the archbishop, quoting Jesus’ words in Luke 10:24: “For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

While several public programs have been planned by the local Church before and after the canonization, Archbishop D’Souza said at an Aug. 19 news conference, “We do not want to hold any official programs on the day (of canonization).”

“None should be disturbed from watching the canonization [live on EWTN and across India on TV]. Thanksgiving Masses will be held in churches after the canonization is over,” noted Archbishop D’Souza, who, along with at least 45 Indian bishops, will be at the Vatican for Blessed Teresa’s canonization.

“We will have our celebration on Oct. 2,” added the archbishop. On that day, Kolkata will have a thanksgiving Mass and public celebration of the canonization at the same Netaji indoor stadium where Mother Teresa’s funeral Mass was held on Sept. 12, 1997.

 

Events Planned

With that in mind, Archbishop D’Souza elaborated on what the Church in India was organizing in the days leading up to the canonization. A full-size bronze statue of Mother Teresa — side by side with the statue of St. John Paul II — was to be unveiled on Aug. 26, Mother Teresa’s birthday, at the entrance of the Kolkata archbishop’s house, which is situated on Kolkata’s Mother Teresa Sarani (Road). It was known as “Park Street” until her beatification in October 2003.

A photo of the statue was held aloft by Archbishop D’Souza, along with Missionaries of Charity (MC) assistant superior general Sister Lysa, during the press conference. Mother Teresa founded the religious congregation in 1950.

“Mother [Teresa] was God’s gift to Kolkata, India, and the world. Mother challenges us to recognize the poor and serve them,” said Sister Lysa.

Sister Lysa added: “We will celebrate Mother’s canonization in a special way, with thankful hearts and prayers.”

One of the major events ahead of the Oct. 2 ceremonies in Kolkata is the fourth Mother Teresa International Film Festival Sept. 26-29. As many as 23 Indian and foreign films made about or inspired by Mother Teresa will be screened at the film fest, said Sunil Lucas, president of World Catholic Association for Communication’s India chapter, known as Signis India.

Signis organized the first Mother Teresa film festival in 2003 to mark her beatification. It was also held in in 2007 for the 10th anniversary of her death and again in 2010 for the centenary of her birth. All of the entries in the film festival will be free to the public.

The Jesuit St. Xavier College will hold a major art exhibition from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2.

“Paintings on Mother Teresa by eminent artists, including the late M. F. Husain (known as the greatest of Indian painters), will be held in our auditorium,” Jesuit Father Felix Raj, the college’s president, told the Register.

The Missionaries of Charity will hold a novena at Mother Teresa’s tomb at their motherhouse in preparation for the canonization.

Meanwhile, the cathedral of Baruipur, almost 40 miles east of Kolkata, along with several other churches across the country, will be renamed after the new saint.

 

‘My Mother’

“Mother is my mother, guru and mentor,” Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photographers, told the Register after attending the early morning Mass on Aug. 22 at the motherhouse.

“I wanted Mother’s blessings before proceeding to the Vatican for the canonization,” said Rai, who is a Hindu. “That’s why I came from Delhi.”

Anto Akkara writes from

Bangalore, India.