29 August,2016 06:57 AM IST | | Maleeva Rebello
Next Sunday, the prayers of thousands will be fulfilled as Mother Teresa is declared a saint by the Pope, just a day before her 19th death anniversary on September 5
Next Sunday, the prayers of thousands will be fulfilled as Mother Teresa is declared a saint by the Pope, just a day before her 19th death anniversary on September 5. The ceremony will be held far away in Vatican, but Mumbaikars are going all out to witness the canonisation live. While some are buying new TV sets, others are organising film screenings about the life and times of the Mother.
The canonisation was announced earlier this year, after Pope Francis approved Mother Teresa's second miracle, in which she is said to have healed a Brazilian man with brain tumours in 2008. The second miracle was the final hurdle for canonisation. Before that, her first miracle had already been recorded in 1998, when she supposedly cured an Indian woman of a stomach tumour. That had cleared the way for her beatification, which took place in 2003. Both miracles took place after her death.
Although most of her life's work was in Kolkata, Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, Macedonia, as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Pic/AFP
'Proud to witness it'
I have bought a smart TV so that I can watch the ceremony live. Mother has been an inspiration to me for many years. I always wanted to go to Kolkata and meet her, but sadly was unable to. I have waited very long for her canonisation and now finally the day is drawing near. It is a historic day and I am very proud to be alive to witness it. - Melwyn Fernandes, Thane resident
The Fernandes family has bought a new TV to watch the historic ceremony. Pics/Datta Kumbhar
Like Mother, like follower
Dr Veronica Fernandes, a dentist in Vartak Nagar, Thane, will hold free dental check-up camps for the underprivileged ahead of Mother Teresa's canonisation next Sunday.
"Mother Teresa always served with love. I am trying to emulate her. I decided to have a free camp in orphanages and old age homes to celebrate the canonisation," said Fernandes, adding, "My family and I will watch the ceremony together. I have asked my cable operator to ensure that we get the channel on which it will be shown."
