Saint Teresa of Calcutta

I was born to an Albanian family in Macedonia. As a young girl I was involved in parish activities. My mother was very devout and told me stories of missionaries who inspired me. At the age of 18, I joined the missionary order of the Sisters of Loreto, in Ireland. As a young sister I travelled to Calcutta, India. There I taught at a school for girls for almost 20 years. I was deeply moved by the number of the sick and dying people on the street. In 1946, I understood God’s call: to serve the sick, dying, hungry and homeless people. After I got medical training, other women followed me. In 1950, I founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity. I became known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta. As the years passed, centres of this Order were built throughout the world. In 1979 I received the Nobel Prize for peace. I died in 1997.