Missionaries of Charity

Missionaries of Charity
Name	Missionaries of Charity
Caption	Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity
Formation	7 October 1950
Founder	Mother Teresa
Type	Religious congregation of pontifical right
Headquarters	Kolkata, India
Membership	Approximately 5,000 sisters (2020)
Leader title	Superior General
Leader name	Sr. M. Prema
Parent organization	Catholic Church

Missionaries of Charity. The Missionaries of Charity is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in 1950 by Mother Teresa in Kolkata, India. Dedicated to serving "the poorest of the poor," the order operates homes for the dying, orphanages, leprosy clinics, and shelters worldwide. Its distinctive white saris with blue borders have become an internationally recognized symbol of its work among the destitute, sick, and marginalized.

History and founding

The congregation was founded on 7 October 1950, after Mother Teresa received permission from the Holy See to establish a new diocesan congregation within the Archdiocese of Calcutta. Her initial inspiration came during a train journey to Darjeeling in 1946, an experience she described as a "call within a call" to serve the impoverished in the slums of Kolkata. The first home, the Kalighat Home for the Dying (Nirmal Hriday), opened in 1952, offering care to the terminally ill. The order quickly gained recognition, receiving pontifical right status from Pope Paul VI in 1965, which allowed it to expand its missions beyond India. Early foundations were established in Venezuela, Italy, Tanzania, and Austria, marking the beginning of its global presence.

Mission and charism

The core mission is expressed in its constitutions as serving "the poorest of the poor" and quenching the "infinite thirst of Jesus Christ on the cross for love and souls." This charism focuses on concrete service to Jesus Christ present in the "distressing disguise" of the most destitute, encompassing the hungry, naked, homeless, crippled, blind, lepers, and all who feel unwanted or unloved. Spiritual works, including adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and daily Mass, are considered the foundation for all corporal works of mercy. The sisters take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, along with a fourth vow of "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor."

Organization and structure

The congregation is led by a Superior General, following the death of Mother Teresa in 1997, leadership passed to Sr. Nirmala Joshi and later to the current Superior General, Sr. M. Prema. The order is divided into provinces, each overseen by a provincial superior, with the motherhouse located at 54A, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road in Kolkata. Several affiliated branches exist, including the Missionaries of Charity Brothers (founded in 1963), the Missionary Fathers of Charity (1984), and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. The sisters follow a simple, austere lifestyle, symbolized by their distinctive habit and living in community among those they serve.

Activities and services

The sisters operate over 750 homes in approximately 140 countries, providing a wide range of services. These include homes for the dying like Nirmal Hriday, orphanages such as Shishu Bhavan, clinics for those with leprosy, shelters for the homeless, and soup kitchens. Their work extends to disaster relief, care for refugees, and support for people with HIV/AIDS. Activities are funded primarily through donations, with the sisters relying on Divine Providence and rejecting government grants for their core charitable work. Notable projects include the Gift of Love homes in New York City and facilities in war-torn regions like Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.

Controversies and criticism

The order has faced scrutiny regarding its medical practices, with some former volunteers and physicians criticizing the standard of care in its homes, alleging a lack of adequate pain management and modern diagnostics. Journalistic investigations, including a 1994 report by the British medical journal The Lancet and a critical documentary by Christopher Hitchens titled Hell's Angel, raised questions about these practices. Further controversy emerged in 2015 when a sister was arrested in Ranchi for allegedly participating in baby trafficking from a home for unwed mothers, leading to legal proceedings. The congregation's staunch opposition to abortion and contraception has also been a point of contention with some modern healthcare advocates and governments.

Recognition and legacy

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with the Missionaries of Charity, bringing global attention to the congregation. She was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis in 2016. The order's legacy is its vast network of charitable institutions and its embodiment of a particular vision of Christian charity. Its influence is seen in the numerous awards given to its founder, including the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Shri, and in the continued service of its sisters in some of the world's most difficult environments, from the streets of Addis Ababa to the slums of Manila.

Category:Religious organizations established in 1950 Category:Catholic religious institutes Category:Christian missionary societies