Connecticut woman says tie to Mother Teresa began with child's cry

Published: 2003-10-06

NEW MILFORD, Conn. (CNS) -- A Connecticut woman's relationship with Mother Teresa of Calcutta began in 1987 with a child's crying at Mass. Donna McCarthy was attending a private Mass in the chapel at Gift of Peace House, run by the Missionaries of Charity in Washington. McCarthy had been visiting the AIDS and terminally ill patients at the house. During the Mass, McCarthy's daughter Jessica, then 1 and a half, cried so much she had to be taken out of church several times. Nervous about the disturbance, McCarthy later chose to stand apart from the crowd. But the saintly missionary went up to McCarthy and Jessica, and said, "Is this the baby who was singing at Mass?" With McCarthy were her two other children, Justin, then 10, and Chaldea, 4. Mother Teresa blessed the children and gave each a medal. Mother Teresa then beckoned to Jessica with open arms. McCarthy said the normally shy child slowly walked up and then reached out and held hands with Mother Teresa. McCarthy's relationship would last through 22 exchanged letters and a dozen meetings with Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 and was to be beatified by Pope John Paul II Oct. 19.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .