Blessed Mother Teresa House

this was after a morning mass, noviciates are gathered to receive
blessing from a father whose birthday was today

Mother House is located on 54 AJC Bose Road in Calcutta, India. This house, is the headquarter of the Missionary of Charity in the World. This is where Mother lives, works and died. In this house, you find Mother's tomb, two to three churches with the church on the second floor being the one regularly attended by the nuns and the volunteers. It is allowed to take only pictures at the Mother's tomb which is located on the first floor to the right of this picture.

Mother's tomb room. the only area of
the compound where we are allowed to
take picture.

There is also the room of Mother which is to be visited from 9AM-12PM and 3PM-5PM Monday-Sunday except Thursday which is the holiday. Here also, it is prohibited to take pictures. One can only see from behind a fence. This room is typical to Mother's life as regard to her humility, chastity, poverty and renunciation to all type of material comfort.
In this compound, there is also the Mother's Museum which portays Mother's life from the beginning of the foundation to her death. One finds here, everything belongings to Mother during her life. It is also prohibited to take picture here.

Here pausing with a Palestinian's volunteer in the
Volunteer's room

Again on this first floor, we have the volunteer's hall where all volunteers meet every morning after the mass to take the breakfast (banana, loave of bread and chai or Indian's tea). Here, the nuns in charge of volunteers give the last informations about the day and also give passes to the newcomers who have not registered yet. This is one of the hot spots where you have the sense that, the World is present. All the volunteers meet here every morning before departing each to the assigned site of work for the day. Also, some gatherings of the volunteers are done here. People come from all the continents regardless of religions, that is why you find Non-Catholics and Catholics coming to work for the common good of the poors as Mother did during her lifetime.

Two volunteers talking after the morning
mass in the chapel of the second floor.

Entrance to Mother's compound

Mother House is receiving many visitors throughout the day. These are tourists coming all over the World some of whom are here to volunteer. Also these are Indians from Hindu or Muslims coming to pay tribute to Mother. It is beautiful to see how Non-Catholics bow to Mother's Tomb in Hindu or Muslim tradition. During visits, rosaries are tributed on demand. Eventhough the compound is not big, a guide is available if one needs to tour it. At the entrance, there is/are always nun(s) to provide information.

Volunteers waiting for the bus to drop them
at their assigned site

After the Morning's breakfast and information, volunteers move out of the room to wait on the sidewalk for the bus to go to their assigned site. Some of which sites are not far from Mother House just walked there. For example volunteers schedule to work at Shishu Bavan which is two blocks away, just walk there. Other eventhough the site is far, decide to walk there in group of many.

It is an awsome experience to volunteer with the Foundation. It is spiritually revigorating and uplifting. One cannot regret to go there. I thank God to giving me the grace to volunteer for the expansion of his glory in the poor of Calcutta. To glory be our Almighty God, maker of Heaven and Earth, the Unseen and Seen.