3. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Agnes Bojaxhu was
born in Yugoslavia
in 1910. She
entered the
convent at the age
of 18, taking the
name of Sr Teresa.
She sailed for India
and for years,
taught at a girls’
Catholic school.
Most of the
students were from
wealthy families.
4. While on a train returning from her annual retreat,
Sister Teresa felt the call of God to leave the security
of her convent life.
She believed God was calling her to minister to the
poorest of the poor on the streets of Calcutta.
5. She responded to this call, and left the convent in 1948.
She lived very simply, and spent her days picking up
dying people from the streets.
In 1950 she opened the first Home for the Dying, where
the outcasts of Calcutta could die with dignity.
6. Many girls she had taught at the Loretto convent school
joined her in her work. They too, dedicated their lives
to Jesus in serving the very poor. In 1950, Sr Teresa’s
order became known as the Missionaries of Charity.
7. She taught her nuns to
live very simple lives, to
pray constantly and to see
the face of Jesus in every
person, especially the
poorest of the poor.
8. Mother Teresa won the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1979
for her service of love to
the world. She accepted
the award –
..”in the name of the
hungry, the naked, the
homeless, the crippled,
the blind, the lepers, of all
those people who feel
unwanted, unloved,
uncared for throughout
society, people who have
become a burden to the
society and are shunned
by everyone.”
- Mother Teresa’s Acceptance Speech
9. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, at the age
of 87.
Her Missionaries of Charity continue to grow and
serve the poorest of the poor.
Her Order is currently going through the process of
having Mother Teresa declared a saint.
