New Delhi: For churches across Delhi, the elevation of Mother Teresa to sainthood is a time of celebration. All the major Roman Catholic churches are being bedecked with flower and special illumination for Sunday afternoon when Pope Frances canonizes her as St Teresa of Calcutta.
The day will also see the culmination of nine days of prayers — the Novena — at the churches that began in the run-up to the special ceremony at the Vatican.
A feast will be held on Monday in honour of the frail nun who made caring for and loving the poor her life’s mission.
Community meals will also be served across the catholic parishes on Sunday as thousands are expected to celebrate the canonization.
According to Father Savarimuthu Sankar of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, the ‘langar’ is a symbolic reference to the kind deeds Mother Teresa did during a lifetime of service to humanity.
“The canonization is a great joy and honour for every Indian citizen, and the ‘langar’ will be a tribute to her symbolically,” said Father Sankar at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at Gol Dak Khana. “It is also the jubilee year of mercy, so it is fitting Mother is being sainted this year since she was an embodiment of mercy and kindness.”
At Majnu ka Tila, there will be a special mass at 6 p.m. by Archbishop Anil JT Couto of Delhi. He will offer prayers to Saint Teresa and this will be followed by distribution of food to the poor.
“The community is elated that at last Mother Teresa has been raised to the honours of the altar,” said Archbishop Couto. “It is a proud moment for India. There is an air of eagerness all around as we wait for the moment when she is declared a saint.”
Even bigger celebrations are expected to be held at Mother Teresa Church at Indra Prastha Extension, a Catholic church that has been named in memory of the much-loved Nobel laureate. On Saturday, the nun’s life-size statue there could be seen being decked up for the special event on Sunday.