Mother House, Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata
Mother House or Missionaries of Charity is a religious congregation established by the Mother in 1950. It was the prime hub of Mother Teresa’s mission to preach peace globally, especially for the women.The members of the Mother House provide free services to the underprivileged ones. The house has around 4,500 active members, commonly known as Sisters. They are all devoted their lives towards serving the needy ones. They take vows of obedience, poverty, chastity and stick to selflessly and wholeheartedly help to the ones looking for aid.
The services of Missionaries of Charity under Mother Teresa’s mission, Kolkata have won several hearts all over the globe, and today, there are several branches of the congregation running all over the world all devoted to serve the ones who really need it.
Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity – A Quick Glance
Address: 54A, A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700014, India
What is it: Catholic religious congregation
Type: Centralized Religious Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right (for Women)
Established in: 1950
Founder: Mother Teresa
Superior General: Sr. Mary Prema Pierick, M.C
Number of members: 5,287 members (2015)
Timings: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Closed on 22nd August, Easter Monday, and 26th December)
Visit duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Famous for: Experience seekers, History buffs, Someone looking for solitude and peace
How to Reach the Mother House
Mother Teresa’s mission, Kolkata platform, the Mother House, is a major landmark in Kolkata, and the accessibility is easy and convenient. The nearest metro station is at Park Street, located 2km (1.2mi) away from the Missionaries of Charity. Take a taxi to reach the spot, or you can also walk through these 2km.The Mother House is also accessible via bus through any parts of the city. The availability of several direct and regular bus services from Howrah Railway Station, Sealdah Railway Station as well as from the international airport makes it extremely convenient to reach from any part of the city.
Mother Teresa’s Mission that Begins at Mother House
Mother Teresa’s mission that was started decades back in the City of Joy, remains to be treasured and revered till today. To commemorate the contributions and teachings of the Mother, the Missionaries of Charity is set up in Kolkata to care all those who are distressed and abandoned women.Mother Teresa’s Mission reflected in Missionaries of Charity
The Missionaries of Charity is a Catholic (Latin Church) religious congregation established by Mother Teresa to care for those including refugees, abandoned children, lepers, prostitutes, the mentally challenged, sick children, AIDS patients, the aged, and convalescent. Mother Teresa’s mission was to promote global peace and the same is preached in the Mother House.The Missionaries of Charity have volunteers who run it to educate street children. They also run soup kitchens and many other services devoted as per the community needs. The services are all free of charge and are exclusively dedicated to everyone irrespective of religion, social status and other discriminatory factors.
Mother Teresa’s Mission – Same for Everyone
The Mother House provides free services to everyone irrespective of their religion. No matter whoever is sick, poor, disabled, mentally challenged, former prostitutes, on death bed, addicts, homeless, victims of natural disasters and domestic violence, orphans, and street children – the Missionaries of Charity is devoted to pull them up. The services run are basically about running soup kitchens and schools to educate the street children under poverty level.What’s Inside the Missionaries of Charity?
An area of the house is especially reserved for followers to pay respect to Mother Teresa’s mission, Kolkata and the Mother herself. There is a tomb of the Mother and a display of her work exhibited through photographs, awards and articles. Belongings of the Mother, like her sarees, her sandals and her bag are also displayed.Mother Teresa’s mission began here in the Mother House where she started serving the mankind, and this is where it ended too with her demise. In her lifetime, she had created a community that serves the mankind from the Mother House.
Mother Teresa’s Mission, Kolkata: Expansion and Development
The concept of Mother House began in 1950 when Mother Teresa and her pupils formed a small community to care for the distressed and needy ones. Once they got permission from the Vatican, they formed a church in Kolkata exclusively to help others and to promote global peace.The community initially began with 12 members; it was in 1965 after Pope Paul VI allowed Mother Teresa to expand the congregation all over the world.
The Contemplative branch of the Brothers was added to the existing list of congregation homes in 1979. It was followed by a Priest Branch in 1984 named Missionaries of Charity Fathers. Both these expansions were founded by Mother Teresa along with Father Joseph Langford. This combined vocation with Ministerial Priesthood which further expanded Mother Teresa’s mission.
Venezuela was the first house outside India, followed by several others in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States of America. By 1996, there were over 500 missions in over 100 nations run by the congregations.
The Mother resigned in 1990, and she passed away in 1997 September 5th handing over the congregation to her followers. Mother Teresa’s mission, Kolkata is now carried forward by her successor Sr. Nirmala Joshi, MC, and the Superior General of the Mother House is Sr. Mary Prema Pierick, M.C.
Mass at Mother House to Remember Mother Teresa’s Mission
The Mother House holds a daily mass with Sisters and Volunteers. The Holy Mass every day is held at 6:00 am in the main chapel. Pilgrim Group Masses are organized at Mother’s Tomb during visiting hours. These masses are accompanied by a priest.If you want to visit and attend the masses, it has to be notified well in advance to the authority.
Additionally, every Fridays at 4:30 pm, there is a special mass offered at Mother’s Tomb with the intentions placed, and followed by a special blessing ceremony organized at Mother Teresa’s relic.