“Jesus loves His priests very much and wants them to grow in holiness by living the priesthood to the full – this simple way will help very much. Let us pray and ask Our Lady to take care [of the priests] as She did of Jesus.” (Mother Teresa)
The Corpus Christi Movement for Priests (CCM) is an international association for diocesan priests originally founded by Mother Teresa and approved by the Holy See in 1981. The Corpus Christi Movement for Priests was restarted in 1997 by Mother Teresa and Fr. Pascual Cervera and received the approval of Cardinal O’Connor of New York in May 1997 and the apostolic blessing of Pope John Paul II in July 1997. Aiming at fostering priestly holiness, lived in the context of their own priestly ministry, the CCM members are invited to spiritually share in the charism and spirit given by God to the universal Church through Mother Teresa.
For more information, please visit www.corpuschristimovement.org or contact us:
Corpus Christi Movement
General Zabala, IO Bis
28002 Madrid
Spain
corpxti@gmail.com
“A co-worker is a person who puts love into living action in the service of the poor. Where? First in the family, not neglecting them, before working outside.” (Mother Teresa)
From the beginning, the Missionaries of Charity attracted people in every part of the world who wished to have some part in the work of loving service to God in the poor. Out of this group developed the International Movement of Co-workers of Mother Teresa whose way of life and activities were blessed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on March 29, 1969.
The Co-workers consist of men, women, youth and children of all nations and cultures and religions. Co-workers desire to love God in their fellowman, especially in the poorest of the poor of all castes and creeds, in the spirit of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity.
The aim of the International Movement of Co-workers is to satiate the infinite thirst of Jesus for love and for souls by:
A co-worker is one who sees the face of God in every human person and shares personally in the service of the poor using hands to serve and a heart to love: “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to Me” (Mt 25:40) The least of my brethren (the poorest of the poor) are:
Mother Teresa desired her co-workers to maintain a deep family love in their own homes, and to seek and serve the needy and suffering in their own neighborhood. She emphasized that getting to know the them personally, is when we can understand and love them. Mother Teresa asked the Co-workers to do for the poor the “little things” that no one else has time to do.
The Co-workers are also invited and encouraged to work with the local Missionaries of Charity Sisters, Brothers or Fathers nearest to them. Where there are no Missionaries of Charity, the group leaders of the Co-workers will remain in touch with the regional superior of the Sisters of the nearest region and carry out works of love. Group leaders will be chosen by their own groups for a term of one year each time.
Co-workers are encouraged to come together locally as a group whenever possible according to their need: for prayer, sharing and work with the Missionaries of Charity (or by themselves if not possible). Those who wish may have days of silence, prayer and meditation locally, or, when necessary, a few neighboring groups can join together.
For further information, please contact the Missionaries of Charity nearest to you.
“I need souls like yours to pray and suffer for the work … I need many people who suffer who would join us... You must be happy, also you are chosen by the Lord who loves you so much that he gives you a part in the suffering. Be brave and cheerful and offer much, that we can bring many souls to God.” (Mother Teresa to Jaqueline De Decker)
Mother Teresa began in the 1950s The Sick and Suffering Co-Workers (who were initially referred to as “second self”) in an effort to expand her mission of love to those who were unable, because of their poor health, to participate physically in the service of the poorest of the poor. Two young people from Calcutta, Agnes Gomes and Nicholas Gomes, both suffering with Tuberculosis, and Jacqueline de Decker, a Belgian nurse and social worker, would share in this apostolate by becoming Mother Teresa’s “second self ”— a spiritual twin who would offer to God their prayers and suffering for her and for the fruitfulness of her work among the poor. This was the beginning of the Sick and Suffering Co-workers, as they were later called. With Mother Teresa, Jacqueline de Decker eventually took up the task of promoting for the sick this apostolate of prayer and offering of one’s suffering to God for the spiritual welfare of the poorest of the poor, linking each “Sick and Suffering Co-Worker” with an individual Missionary of Charity.
The aim of the Sick and Suffering Co-workers is to join in the apostolate of the Missionaries of Charity by offering one’s prayers and sufferings to God for the fruitfulness of their work for the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor.
All those who, due to illness or old age, are unable to join in active work of the Missionaries of Charity, may become Sick and Suffering Co-Workers by offering their prayers and suffering for a particular Sister or a Brother. The link between a Sick and Suffering Co-Worker and a Sister or a Brother essentially a spiritual one; though periodic letters are exchanged, personal gifts/money are not permitted. The Sisters may write only for Christmas, and at times as they are stationed in a mission where the post is functioning poorly, the communication is very limited. However, offering prayers and sacrifices, pains or inconveniences of poor health, will support the mission among the poor and the work for souls. The Missionaries of Charity in turn pray for their assigned Sick and Suffering Co-Workers.
For more information on the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers or if you would like to become part of this beautiful mission of love, please contact:
Sr Jeannine MC
Missionaries of Charity
69, Avenue Du Roi
1060 Bruxelles
Belgium
“My dear Lay MC’s, keep the joy of loving Jesus in your heart and share this joy with all you meet. Make astrong resolution, ‘I will, I want, with God's blessing, be holy.’ This will help you to satiate the thirst of Jesus for love for souls.” (Mother Teresa)
The Lay Missionaries of Charity (LMC) is an international movement for the laity, married or single, founded by Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, MC, and approved on February 25, 1987 by the Diocese of Rome. The LMCs adhere to the spirit and charism of the Missionaries of Charity family and make private vows of (conjugal) chastity, poverty, obedience and wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor.
On April 16, 1984 four lay persons made private vows in the presence of Mother Teresa in the Chapel of the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative Brothers in Rome. They had been associated with the life of the Brothers by prayer, penance and works of mercy.
After its approval in 1987, the movement grew rapidly and spread to various countries in Europe, North, Central and South America. Its statutes have been translated into over 15 languages.
Remaining in the heart of the world, the LMCs’ purpose is to sanctify themselves and their own families, by consecrating themselves, their families and the world itself to God, offering worship by the holiness of their lives expressed through prayer, penance and works of mercy, after the example of theHoly Family of Nazareth.
The special mission of the LMCs is to work for the salvation and the sanctification of the members of theirown families and of the poorest of the poor of the whole world:
Those interested in joining the LMCs have a “Come and See” experience, i.e. a time to frequent an LMC group on a regular basis, to read, study and reflect on the statutes, and to come in touch with the group’s spiritual director and, if possible, the Missionaries of Charity.
The sign of the LMC’s consecration is a crucifix received at the beginning of the period of formation, and a larger crucifix is given at the time of first profession. The mode of dress is simple and dignified: a sign of the dedication to serving the poorest of the poor and an example of modesty for all. The LMCs have spiritual directors and lay “links” on the local, national, and international levels. Each local LMC group meets once a week as a rule or if this is not possible, once every two weeks.
LMC are encouraged to pray from an LMC prayer book and also many pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily, at least Lauds and Vespers.
For further information please contact:
Missionaries of Charity – Contemplative
Via S. Agapito 8
00177 Rome,
Italy
Tel: +39-06-2170-7702
Fax: +39-06-2170-7703
Email: MCCbrothers@libero.it
“Bring prayer into your family. Love begins at home. You must start there by serving your own family and those in your neighborhood.” (Mother Teresa)
The I Thirst Movement (ITM) was initiated by the Missionaries of Charity Fathers (MCF) on September 5, 2006, in response to the desire of lay people to participate in the charism of Mother Teresa and specifically in the MCF mission of evangelizing the poorest of the poor. Having encountered the thirsting Jesus and entrusted themselves to Our Lady, members commit themselves to satiate the thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love and souls especially by participating in the service and evangelization of the poorest of the poor.
Having encountered the thirsting Jesus and entrusted themselves to Our Lady, members commit themselves to satiate the thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love and souls especially by participating in the service and evangelization of the poorest of the poor.
For more information, please contact an MC Fathers nearest to you or:
I Thirst Movement
P.O. Box 530809
San Diego CA, 92153
U.S.A.
itmmcf@yahoo.com
Tel: +1 619 399-1156
“What I can do, you cannot. What you can do, I cannot. But together we can do something beautiful for God.” (Mother Teresa)
Mother Teresa’s humble service to the poor drew many, especially the young, to share in her works of love. Like her, they were desirous to give their “hands to serve and hearts to love”. From the very beginning of the Missionaries of Charity thousands of volunteers contributed their time and talents to helping Mother Teresa’s mission among the poorest of the poor. The volunteers come from different walks of life (from students to retired professionals), from different countries across the globe and a different period of time (literally from a few hours to possibly a few years) and serve the poorest of the poor in different parts of the world. Their service alongside the sisters is invaluable not only for the poor they served but also for their own growth and enrichment. The volunteers join the sisters in the work and in prayer, as much as their schedule permits them
Before starting as a volunteer, one must register with the sister in-charge of the volunteers. Registration and Orientation for Volunteers is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity, 54A, A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata - 700016 at 3 pm. Day passes are issued for those who arrive on a day when there is no registration. But they are required to register at the next registration. Please bring your passport/Aadhar card (for Indians) as you are required to show it to the Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteer Coordinators are not available on Sundays and Thursdays. Thursday is a day of prayer for the sisters.
Volunteers share in the works of love at the Homes given below. Details will be given at the Orientation.
If you’re working in Kalighat, Prem Dan or Daya Dan, you will needto get a bus to work. It is advisable to keep a ready supply of coins, as the conductors don’t like giving change. It costs 4 rupees from Motherhouse to Kalighat.
There are numerous guesthouses, cheap hotels and mid-range hotels available close by for volunteers to choose from. The most convenient hostels and the ones closest to Motherhouse are:
You are not required to call or write to the sisters ahead of time to go to Kolkata to volunteer. Simply “show up” for Orientation and Registration:
(by Jim, volunteer)
Many people have found volunteering to be the experience of a lifetime. Volunteers are welcome to help the sisters in their service to the poorest of the poor for a week, a month, or longer. For those wishing to volunteer in Calcutta, please write directly to Sister in-charge of volunteers:
Missionaries of Charity
Sister in-charge of Volunteers
54/A A.J.C. Bose Road
Calcutta 700016
India
Tel : +91-33-2249-7115 or +91-86-9700-7115
For those wishing to volunteer elsewhere, please contact the regional house for the country where you plan to volunteer (Sorry, no e-mail available). View the list of regional houses of the Missionaries of Charity with the respective country in each Region: Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, The Americas
(by Todd, volunteer)
The experience of Volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, or in any of the 120 countries they are serving today, is deeply humbling and transformative. Each day begins with quiet prayer and reflection before heading to the various homes run by the Sisters, such as the home for the dying or home for disabled children. Volunteers from around the world come together to serve with compassion, performing simple but meaningful tasks like feeding, bathing, and comforting the sick. Working alongside the Sisters and volunteers who come from so many different cultures and who are so diverse in age, faith, and economic backgrounds, reveals a deep sense of shared purpose found in the service of others. The entire experience is rooted in authentic encounter. Despite the emotional intensity, there is a profound sense of purpose and unity, as every act of service is driven by the truths of love and dignity, following the legacy of Mother Teresa. It has impacted my life in ways I cannot fully describe, but I am so very grateful and I look forward to going back.
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