Mother Teresa of Calcutta

5th September

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu an unknown girl from Skopje Macedonia, became the world-renowned Mother Theresa of Calcutta. She was a woman small in stature but a great giant in her projecton of the love of God.

The Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to her for her humanitarian efforts to uphold “the poorest of the poor,” the sick, the helpless, homeless children, the destitute dying in the streets in the slums of Calcutta.

She declined the banquet in honour of her Nobel Prize Award and forwarded the money to the poor in India.
She has been described as  “the Angel of Mercy” but she described herself as “a pencil in God’s Hands to write His love letter to the world.”

Mother Theresa founded the Missionaries of Charity. The community started with 13 members and today there are more than 4,000 nuns as Missionaries of Charity, worldwide.

She visited Mata in 1967 and in 1976. The Missionaries of Charity opened a house in Cospicua, Malta to cater for the poor and the needy on the island.

After watching the video with the kids find out from their responses what they think it is like to live in the slums.

It is very difficult  for our children to envisage the reality of the hardships that people, especially children, have to face living in these environments:

  • Encourage the older children to search for information and images of the slums in Calcutta, India. 
  • Explain to the younger ones what it means living in the slums, being deprived of bare necessities, like food, enough water, comfortable beds, baths and showers. This exercise, will not only lead them to appreciate the work of Mother Teresa but it will also help them to appreciate so many things that they take for granted.

Even as a child, Mother Theresa felt the necessity to share, to open up to the needs of others. Talk to the kids and let them find out:

  • what they can share  
  • when and where they can do it  
  • with whom.

Mother Theresa used to say that “making a difference starts with small activities.”

Encourage the kids to identify these “small activities” that will make difference to others ( e.g. doing small chores without being asked to do them!). You can organize “A Prize Award” during a special family time for the child who had been the most kind and helpful.

In a moment of family prayer time, lead the kids to express gratitude for ONE special beautiful experience that made them happy on that particular day.

Mother Teresa was a nun and she helped and served the poor. Even though she knew God loved her, she was experiencing spiritual darkness; however, she remained one with God, her lover, through praying while serving him. In 1979, she won the Nobel Peace Award because “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace.”

The 21st of September is the International Day of Peace and to remember and follow Mother Teresa’s steps we are going to create the peace sign poster! 

We need: 

  • Big White Cardboard 
  • Paint (different colours) + Paint Brush
  • Pencil

What to do:

  • On the white cardboard, with a pencil draw the peace sign 
  • Dip the paint brush in some paint and colour the palm of
    your hands and your family
  • Stamp your hand on the sign marked with the pencil
  • Use different colours and repeat until you’re ready. 
  • Look for a nice peaceful quote and neatly, write it down around the peace sign. 
  • When it dries, hang it to be visible from your house façade.
  • Don’t forget to take a photo and send it to us!
Colouring pageDownload

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Saints of the Church. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the holy life, helping you to connect the saints to daily life in a meaningful way.