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MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY, KOLKATA

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Together with the universal Church, we the Missionaries of Charity mourn the death of this great Pope, Pope Francis.

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Pope Francis was a man of evangelical vision. The way he made the Church re-focus its attention on the marginalized, the migrants and the refugees, reminded us of Jesus who sat with the tax collectors and sinners. He wanted a Church that welcomes all, without discriminating anyone. He encouraged us, Missionaries to go to the peripheries of the society. To look for the "lost ones", to get the smell of the sheep. This was exactly why he asked us to open a new mission in Bajo Flores, a big slum in Argentina, close to his hometown Flores. It is a place of drug addiction, violence and gang fights. Our house is in the middle of this slum and sometimes we have bullets flying through our windows.

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This February, we had an unforgettable meeting with our Holy Father in Vatican. I was there for a meeting with the Regionals after which we went for the general audience, followed by a short meeting with Holy Father. He kept on saying to us in his feeble voice, "Sisters, thank you for your vocation and mission. Do you know the Pope also has your community in Vatican. Your vocation is good!" He kept repeating this a few times with both hands upraised. He also said, "Sisters keep going, keep going...." We were moved to tears. He had such a great enthusiasm for the mission. It was such an encouragement for us. We heard that the next day he was admitted in the hospital.

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Sr. M. Joseph MC

Superior General

Missionaries of Charity

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