The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
21 September 2003

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Heaven scent floral feast

Welcome strangers’ call

Bishops: Fight racism

Bishop Mayne dies at 75

Senate ‘yes’ to gay bid

Benedictine nuns gather in Sydney

Tears of joy at Marriage Sunday Mass

Donor club

His Holiness, the poet

Concert to mark Pope’s jubilee

It’s ‘weakness of faith’

Still a need for Catholic voice: Dr Pell

Editorial: Spectre of fear

Letters: Christian values

Conversation: Amanda McKenna, Catholic singer and songwriter - ‘God’s messenger’ on a journey of faith

Opintion: ‘Good mother of all ...’

Voice of Youth: ‘Most wonderful day’

Insights: Biblical ancestors?

Religious: Spirit-ualities are everywhere

North American, Irish, Australian sisters in historic Loreto reunion

Education: Decade a day at school

Social Work degree course at Strathfield

Balmain kids hit right note

Catechism: Daytime course

New bishops ‘help God’s light shine in darkness’

Capacity to forgive ...

‘Heroic witness’ to the Gospel of hope

‘Kids worth dying for’

Inspirations: ‘Schoolies’ faith patrol





 

Voice of Youth: ‘Most wonderful day’

Missionaries of Charity nun feeds an elderly woman at a home for the destitute and dying in Calcutta, India. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who founded the order to work with the poorest of India, will be beatified on October 19 by Pope John Paul II.

Sometimes we can only see through the experiences of others expressed in what they relate. In this instance the writer is a young Indian-Malay woman who is nearing completion of her medical studies in Kuala Lumpur.

Her father and his family all came to be Catholic Christians in maturity. She was reared in the faith.

Having had experience assisting drug addicts and AIDS victims in Kuala Lumpur, she went to Calcutta to assist the Sisters of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.

From there she wrote to her father (in Malayalam, her acha) describing her experience:

My dearest Acha,

Today has been the most wonderful day of my entire stay in Calcutta. It is because at work I finally managed to get through to the blind autistic girl. She is usually violent and very hard to approach but I sang to her for two hours and she eventually rested her head on my chest. From there I took her for a walk and fed her lunch. It is truly the work of the Spirit that has enabled me to do so and certainly not by my own accomplishments.

Today has made my entire week. It is strange how such simple yet powerful events can bring so much peace and happiness to one’s soul.

As much as living in Calcutta can be frustrating nothing compares to it the moment you see a smile on a child’s face. I will surely be back here again at some point in my life.

Of course people will be saying that I do not have to go across the seas to volunteer and that is true, but there is something about this place amidst the chaos and its unending days.

This morning I spent some time at Mother Teresa’s tomb in prayer and her aura is so distinct that you can almost feel her presence physically. It is truly amazing. I cannot describe it in words. The sisters are wonderful and there is continuous prayer and adoration throughout the day. I have never felt more spiritual in my life.

Sr Nirmala Josi, who was Mother’s successor, is a pleasant, soft-spoken person. Her words are extremely inspiring, not just on service to humanity but on life itself. If ever one is lost in life, this is surely the place to find it again.

The other touching aspect of the mission is the multitude of young people that come here.

We all come from different backgrounds and lifestyles but the unity on service serves as a common denominator that weaves us all into one family.

Well, acha, this is a short note, and I have to grab some lunch in a bit. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. I love you.

While such persons live, the Christ-driven spirit of Francis of Assisi, who embraced a leper, and of Mother Teresa, who consoled the dying, is not dead.