Fr. Frederick D'Souza is in the southern part of Sunderbans, hit by monsoon rains. The priest was inspired by an encounter with the Saint of Calcutta, for his mission in Caritas. On a pilgrimage to Calcutta, to the Mother's Tomb.
Sunderbans (AsiaNews) - Caritas India celebrated Mother Teresa among the flood victims in Bangladesh. Fr. Frederick D'Souza, executive director of the Church's social body in India, is in Sunderbans, southern Bangladesh bringing relief and aid. Speaking to AsiaNews on the liturgical memory of the Saint of Calcutta, the priest states: "Mother Teresa continues to inspire my mission within Caritas."
Fr. D'Souza remembers meetings with the Mother of the Poor: "We met on two occasions and for me it was a great privilege to meet the Mother and take her hand in my own. The first time, I was a seminarian at the Jesuits Vidyajyoti College of Theology in Delhi. Mother Teresa had been invited to speak by a group of theologians. Her words moved me deeply and I felt myself called when she addressed seminarians saying, 'To be a holy and compassionate priest, look to the poor.' These words have remained in my mind and they continue to inspire me. "
The second occasion, continues the director of Caritas India, "was in 1984 in Delhi, when after the death of Indira Gandhi, the city was torn apart by riots. Mother Teresa had come to form a group of seminarians who could set up camps to help the victims of the uprising. "
In the Sunderbans forests, extending between Bangladesh and India, millions of poor people are at risk due to climate change. Here this morning the priest wanted to remember the example of the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, "her way of showing the compassionate and merciful face of Jesus."
Tomorrow, the priest will leave the flooded areas of Bangladesh for Calcutta, where "I will go to the Mother's house on pilgrimage, to pray at her tomb so that I can continue to carry on the mission entrusted to Caritas." From here, another four-day trip to the Indian side of the Sunderbans forest area, to plan the next steps of the Catholic organization. (NC)