Our Associates.
Sharing in Mother Teresa’s Mission of Love
Our Associates
Corpus Christi Movement
“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
The Society’s aim is to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus Christ on the Cross for love and souls by the living of the four vows in a spirit of loving trust, total surrender, and cheerfulness, leading each one to the perfect love of God and neighbour and making the Church fully present in the world of today.
Co-Workers
“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)
History
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.
Aim
The aim of the International Movement of Co-workers is to satiate the infinite thirst of Jesus for love and for souls by:
- joyful and total surrender of themselves to the will of God in their day-to-day lives with complete and loving trust in Him;
- loving and serving Him wholeheartedly and freely in the poorest of the poor.
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:
- the hungry – not only for food and human companionship, but also for the Word of God;
- the thirsty – not only for water, but also for knowledge, peace, truth, justice and love;
- the naked – not only for clothes but also of human dignity;
- the unwanted, the unborn child, the racially discriminated against, the homeless and abandoned –homeless not only lacking a shelter made of bricks, but also a heart that understands, that covers, that loves;
- the sick, the dying destitute and the captives – not only in body but also in mind and spirit;
- all those who have lost all hope and faith in life, the alcoholics and drug addicts;
- all those who have lost God – who feel that “God was” – and who have lost all hope in the power of the Spirit.
Way of Life
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.
Co-workers pray after Holy Mass:
- Prayer of Paul IV
- Prayer for Peace of St. Francis
- Radiating Christ
Contact
For further information, please contact the Missionaries of Charity nearest to you.
The Society’s aim is to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus Christ on the Cross for love and souls by the living of the four vows in a spirit of loving trust, total surrender, and cheerfulness, leading each one to the perfect love of God and neighbour and making the Church fully present in the world of today.
Sick and Suffering Co-Workers
“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)
History
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.
Aim
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.
Way of Life
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.
Contact
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
Lay Missionaries of Charity
“My dear Lay MC’s, keep the joy of loving Jesus in your heart and share this joy with all you meet. Make a strong 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.
History
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.
Aim
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 their own families and of the poorest of the poor of the whole world:
- with their constant effort to transform their own families into true sanctuaries of love by means of family prayer, dialogue, sharing and service;
- doing ordinary little things with extraordinary love, for the greater glory of God;
- living a life of prayer, penance and service, marked by simplicity, humility, and the practice of the Gospel teachings; loving and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament;
- with their consecrated presence in the heart of the world;
- loving and serving Jesus hidden under the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor;
- giving material help according to their own means and spiritual comfort to all those who are in need;
- sharing, as far as possible, the work and the life of the Missionaries of Charity;
- accepting with joy their own sufferings and offering them to the Lord in total surrender, loving trust and cheerfulness.
Way of Life
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.
Contact
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: info@mccontemplative.org
I Thirst Movement
“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)
History
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.
Aim
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.
Contact
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@gmail.com
Tel: +1 619 399-1156
Volunteers
“What I can do, you cannot. What you can do, I cannot. But together we can do something beautiful for God.” (Mother Teresa)
History
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.
Contact
For those wishing to volunteer, 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
