PRESS RELEASES
New Bedford set to honor Mother Teresa
NEW BEDFORD -- Mother Teresa of Calcutta belongs to the world, but she also had a special place in her heart for New Bedford. She sent her order, the Missionaries of Charity, to serve in our neighborhoods, and on June 14, 1995, she visited the city, worshipped at the Church of St. Lawrence Martyr and touched the lives of countless SouthCoast residents.
Six years after her death, Nobel laureate Mother Teresa will be beatified on Oct. 19 in Rome. Dispensing with the five-year waiting period, Pope John Paul II allowed Mother Teresa's cause for sainthood to move forward.
In celebration of Mother Teresa's beatification, the Missionaries of Charity and the parish of St. Lawrence Martyr, 565 County St., will honor her legacy at a special Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday with Bishop George W. Coleman presiding. Everyone is invited to celebrate with them.  "Our parishioners feel that it was the high point of their lives to have been in the presence of a living saint," said the Rev. John M. Sullivan, pastor of St. Lawrence's.  Eight years ago, New Bedford residents stood in the rain outside the church and convent hoping to get a glimpse of Mother Teresa.  Clutching umbrellas, cradling babies in their arms, and saying the rosary, the crowd waited and was not disappointed. The tiny and frail woman in the white and blue striped habit acknowledged everyone around her as she passed, often reaching out and laying hands on the infirm and the children.  The Rev. John Driscoll, former pastor of St. Lawrence's and now retired, remembered the police officers with tears in their eyes as they worked their detail, visibly moved by Mother Teresa.
He also recalled speaking to an 11-year-old the day after her visit.
"I felt this when I saw Mother Teresa," the boy told the priest, placing his hand firmly over his heart.  "She made that kind of impact on everybody," the Rev. Driscoll said. "She touched our hearts."  Cecilia Felix, principal of Holy Family-Holy Name School, was invited to a Holy Hour with Mother Teresa and her sisters at the convent, following Mass.   "I met her, received her blessing, and I was in awe," Ms. Felix said. "There are no words to express my feelings."
New Bedford public school teacher Teresa Ouellette went to the airport to bid goodbye to Mother Teresa.  "My daughter Elise was blessed by Mother Teresa before she got on the plane," Ms. Ouellette said. "She was awesome, as the kids would say."  John E. Kearns Jr., assistant director of the diocesan communications office, said that Mother Teresa's visit to New Bedford was the single busiest day of his career.  "I think I was so wrapped up in all that had to be done, it wasn't until two days later it sunk in," he said. "Wow! Mother Teresa!"
Home
 

NEWS ITEMS

Massachusetts Republican Party News & Events.  http://www.massgop.com/events.htm  

Massachusetts Republican Party Agenda http://www.massgop.com/agenda.htm   

The Massachusetts Republican Party is committed to providing a conservative, common-sense voice for the citizens of the Commonwealth.
See the Massachusetts Republican Party 2002 Platform. http://www.massgop.com/platform_02.htm

 We continue to be strong advocates for:

  •  Providing equal opportunity for all citizens

  •  Strengthening our communities

  •  Achieving efficient & effective state government

  •  Maintaining sound fiscal policies for state government

  •   Fostering a competitive economic climate for business growth

  •  Encouraging individual initiative

  •  Protecting personal liberty