The Missionaries of Charity, popularly known as Mother Teresa Sisters, now have a presence in south Trinidad. Archbishop Edward Gilbert blessed their new Southern Main Road, South Oropouche home around midday last Sunday following Holy Mass.

The internationally recognised Catholic congregation established its first home in Trinidad 19 years ago – March 25, 1989 – along the Eastern Main Road, Success Village, Laventille. Back then, Archbishop Anthony Pantin had invited Mother Teresa to set up a home in this archdiocese. Their respective successors, Archbishop Gilbert and Sr Nirmala, collaborated to make this second home possible.

In his homily, Archbishop Gilbert said the Success Village home had done well and the Sisters were respected in the community as they bore witness to their ministry and the Church.

The new Missionaries of Charity home in South Oropouche

Myrtle Partap presents Archbishop Edward Gilbert with the deed, while Fr Henry looks on.

He said he expected much of the same for the new community of Sisters in South Oropouche, who have established the home “to serve people who are alone, who are broken, who have no hope, who have no future… But your presence will bring new life to this area, new witness and new hope”.

The archbishop described Mother Teresa as a person of prayer “who had nothing more than her faith” when she began the Missionaries of Charity in India. Stating that the congregation’s ministry has never been discriminatory and was open to all people, he noted: “They serve anyone who walks through their gate… They are gospel values people”.

The South Oropouche facility will welcome girls who, for one reason or another, cannot live at their parents’ home and who are willing to accept the rules of the Missionaries of Charity home. They will be taught moral values, be given religious instruction, undergo counselling, and receive lessons in arts and craft and cooking. They will also attend schools in the area.

Speaking on the readings of the day, Archbishop Gilbert said in Trinidad and around the world today love and justice were confronting power and violence. He said those who believed in power and violence did not understand the values of love and justice, and only when they have witnessed and experienced these values would they realise the future belonged to love and justice.

Concelebrating the Mass was South Oropouche parish priest Fr Joseph Henry Sebastian. Msgr Esau Joseph and Frs Abraham Shijo and Gregory McLawrence also attended. Fyzabad parliamentary representative Chandresh Sharma was seated in the congregation. So too was Myrtle Partap, who donated the house, her childhood home, to the archdiocese for use by the Sisters. The building is now painted in the congregation’s colours of blue and white.

The liturgy began with the archbishop blessing the water to be used to bless the home, after which he sprinkled holy water on the congregation.

Delivering the vote of thanks, volunteer or “co-worker” Jean de Montagnac thanked local and overseas contributors who supported the renovation of the building, special interest groups and Partap, who was applauded.

Missionaries of Charity co-worker Beatriz Ramoutarsingh gave a light-hearted closing address. Describing herself as a fan of Mother Teresa, she encouraged everyone to become co-workers of the Sisters. Partap then presented the deed for the property to the archbishop, who afterwards blessed the home room by room.

Sr Rubella MC told Catholic News the first floor comprised a 22-bed dorm, a dining room, study area, kitchen and toilet facilities. The second floor will be the Sisters’ residence, comprising bedrooms, a dining room and kitchen, an office, toilet facilities and, at the centre, a chapel.
-  RS