ASIA/INDIA - Two new churches dedicated to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

New Delhi (Fides Service) - The charisma of Mother Teresa of Calcutta continues to live and bear fruits of love and service in India, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India said when it announced the dedication of two new churches to Blessed Teresa, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity. The first new church in New Delhi was dedicated on 22 April by Archbishop Vincent Concessao of New Delhi. The second in the diocese of Mangalore was dedicated on 24 April by Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore. Catholics all over India rejoiced for the new churches and a growing presence of the sisters clad in white saris serving the poorest of the poor.
It took two years to build the church in New Delhi dedicated to Blessed Teresa in the populous Parparganj district. During the Mass of Dedication Archbishop Vincent Concessao said “Blessed Teresa is a symbol of the Lord’s compassion for the poorest of the poor and we are very happy that she has been chosen as the patron of the new church here in Parparganj”. For his part auxiliary Bishop Anil Couto stressed that the Church is a sign of unity and “the new church building can be an important tool in the hands of God to help the people be united in the figure of Christ and bear witness to faith in Christ”. The 150 Catholic families in the new parish said they were close to the spirituality and charity of Mother Teresa.
The other church in Mangalore in the south western state of Karnataka is for about 250 Catholic families. Present for the Mass of Dedication presided by Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza, local priests and religious, Catholics and well-wishers of other religions who hold the memory of Blessed Teresa in high esteem recalling her work among the poorest of the poor. (Agenzia Fides 25/4/2006 righe 26 parole 261)