Name: St Teresa of Calcutta

Lived: 1910-1997

Country: Albania, India

Patron Saint of: World Youth Day, Missionaries of Charity, and co-patron of the Archdiocese of Calcutta

Feast Day: September 5th

Bio: St Teresa, affectionately known as ‘Mother Teresa’ was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje and was the youngest child in her family. Her birth name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Her Father died when she was eight, leaving her family struggling to find money for essential, everyday living needs. Her faith was strong, and she was supported in faith by the Jesuit parish of the Sacred Heart as a youth member.

In 1928, at the age of 18, Agnes moved out of home to take up a missionary life and joined the institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Sisters of Loreto, in Ireland. It is here that she received her name Sister Mary Teresa after St Therese of Lisieux. In 1929, she left Ireland on her first missionary trip and arrived in Calcutta India.

In 1937, Sister Mary Teresa made her final vows and was known as Mother Teresa from this moment on. She continued teaching at St Mary’s school for girls and became the Principal. During this time, she was noted for her charity, unselfishness, courage, hard work and excellent organisation.

On September 10, 1946 during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling, Mother Teresa received a “call within a call”. Jesus revealed his pain at the neglect of the poor and asked her to establish religious orders, Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor. On the 17 August 1948, Mother Teresa dressed for the first time in the white and blue sari and left to be among them.

Because of her humble service to the poorest among the poor, she came to speak with leaders of nations, converse with popes, and receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Her great love for Jesus made her dedicate much time to prayer, in spite of her very active life.

Quote: ‘I alone can not change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.’