Maryland woman joins in beatification of her godmother, Mother Teresa

Published: 2003-10-15

BETHESDA, Md. (CNS) -- Maria Teresa Guadalupe McMurtrie, 20, of Bethesda knew Mother Teresa in a way most did not: The saintly nun was her godmother. While the rest of the world remembers the founder of the Missionaries of Charity for her tireless humanitarian efforts, Maria remembers her as a nice and loving godmother who used to write letters to her and who would visit with her and play games with her, including hide-and-seek. "Even though I see pictures of my godmother in the newspaper, I always remember my godmother is in heaven," Maria told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Washington Archdiocese, in an interview before she was to attend the Oct. 19 beatification Mass for Mother Teresa in Rome. At the Mass, Maria was to be the North American representative bringing the gifts to the altar. She planned to wear a dress especially made for the occasion by Mother Teresa's Washington sisters. Maria, who has Down syndrome, used to live in a Missionaries of Charity-run home for handicapped women and children in Mexico City. When she was 4, Maria was adopted by Sandy McMurtrie of Bethesda, a longtime friend and close associate of Mother Teresa.

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