New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Leading up to the first centenary of the birth of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which is celebrated on 26 August, AsiaNews continues to publish the testimonies of those who lived with the Blessed.
Sister Amile Jose is 48 years old and has become a Missionary of Charity in 1983. He lives in the regional House at Royapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her apostolate is to visit families who are suffering and teaching catechism to children. She lived for three years with Mother Teresa and from her she learned not to ever complain about anything.
What is your apostolate?
Our apostolate is visiting the families and sharing in their joys and sufferings. Listening whole heartedly to their sufferings, and being fully attentive to their sorrows relieves them of nearly half of their pain. Later at Adoration, we pray and intercede for the families by name after we return from our home visits. People open their doors for us and open their hearts to us, the people unburden their lives and sorrows to us and feel the consolation and grace of Christ.
Catechetical work is another important apostolate, here at St Roque’s Parish, we have 300 children who attend faith formation classes, yesterday itself 63 children were confirmed and last week 42 children received their first Holy Communion.
Share with us your personal experiences of Mother Teresa
In 1984 -1986, I was in Mother House, Calcutta for my formation, Mother was a Woman of Prayer, I was most attracted and fascinated with the Mother’s “eyes’ - if she looked at me-, I felt she was looking into my soul, I shall always treasure this memory of Mother- her Eyes.
Interestingly, after Mother’s death, reading Mothers book ‘Founding Grace’, increased my devotion to Mother. Founding Grace, is Mothers dairies containing some of the many letters Mother wrote to priests, and her confessors, sharing with them her struggles, her difficulties and her sufferings she endured in her initial days.
It is most revealing that Mother never complained, grumbled or found fault with anyone. In Mother’s dairies , there are no remarks of complaints against anyone.
How are you living your mission as a Missionaries of Charity ?
The Spirit of our society is Total Trust in God, Complete Surrender and Cheerfulness- for my in this Apostolate with the Grace of Christ, I hope I can cheerfully bear witness to my vocation in the Spirit of Service to the Families during home visits and during the catechetical work.
Mother Teresa always told us that we belong to Jesus and to pray unceasingly and to take the love of Christ to the people. Mother was one of Christ’s best witnesses—to see her love for him and the poor was to see and want Christ.
What have you learned from Mother Teresa
When I joined the Missionaries of Charity in1983, I joined to follow Jesus in the footsteps of Mother Teresa- to share completely in his Passion. Everyday And in December 2009, when I was diagnosed with diabetes, while initially, it saddened me, then looking at Mother and remembering her Founding Grace- of never complaining, of accepting the cross. And now, I consider this diabetes as God’s Grace to resemble Christ and share in his Passion and bear fruit for my apostolate.
Everyday at Mass, Meditation and Adoration before Jesus, my continuous prayer is “Out of Love for You Jesus” I have a first class relic- a strand of Mother’s hair, and this relic is a source of immense consolation and encouragement in my Mission as her daughter- Mother was a woman of prayer and Mother continues to intercede for each of us, that we may Love Jesus more and more.”.