Children taken in by Mother Teresa attend beatification in Rome

Published: 2003-10-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The family from Roseville, Minn., drew attention even in the crowd of 50,000 people from all over the world waiting for Pope John Paul II's 25th anniversary Mass in St. Peter's Square Oct. 16. The three tall, white adults and the two petite Indian children taking turns sitting high on their dad's shoulders planned to be back in the square a few days later to participate in the beatification ceremony for Mother Teresa. Theresa and Michael Gorde, ages 9 and 7, respectively, were happy to explain that they had a special connection to Mother Teresa, having been adopted by the Gordes from an orphanage run by the Missionaries of Charity in Delhi, India. Theresa, in fact, received her name from Mother Teresa, who held her as a newborn baby.

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