Team Herald
PANJIM: Back in January 1976, when Mother Teresa — now Saint Teresa — had visited Goa, she had decided to set up a refuge that would be dedicated to the service of the poor. And now, 49 years after it was set up in St Inez, the Missionaries of Charity are closing their doors in the state Capital.
Over the past five decades, the organisation has provided essential care to destitute women, unwed mothers, orphans, and senior citizens. Speaking to O Heraldo, Superior of Missionaries of Charity, Sr Rosaria, said, “We have received an order from our Kolkata headquarters to leave and go to another place. This institute was started by Mother Teresa.
We will hand over the premises to the Assistência de Goa and go wherever we are sent to do the service.” Assistência de Goa, the charity organisation, is the owner of the building in which the Missionaries of Charity are housed currently.
When asked about the reasons for closing down the institute, Sr Rosaria remarked, “Panjim is now rich and it appears that we are not required. We are going where there are poor people.”
The institute has begun relocating its 44 inmates, with 26 already moved to Carambolim and Cota-Fatorpa, where the organisation has its presence. The remaining 18 will be relocated on April 24, just four days before the closure.
Although the institute stopped offering children for adoption approximately 10 years ago, they facilitated nearly 500 adoptions. “We brought joy to the lives of these children. Today they are married and are visiting the centre with their children, to meet us,” said Sr Rosaria.
It is learnt that the Missionaries of Charity Superior General M Joseph wrote to the Assistência de Goa stating that it will return the entire premises. The Superior General has also expressed her gratitude for having the privilege of serving the “poorest of the poor” in Panjim since 1976.
“They (The Sisters of Mother Teresa) met the Archbishop and informed him that they want to discontinue because Panjim does not require a home like this. People are well off in Panjim and they want to serve the poorest of the poor. We are also surprised by their decision,” said one of the trustees of Assistência de Goa.