Aug. 28: Christians in the Northeast are planning to celebrate the canonisation of Mother Teresa in Rome on September 4 with a hope to usher in an era of lasting peace in the troubled region.
On the day of the canonisation, a mass will be held at Nongshyrngan village under Pynursla in the East Khasi Hills, about 63km from Shillong.
The significance of organising a mass at Nongshyrngan village was that in April this year, the Shillong Archdiocese of the Catholic Church established Mother Teresa's parish at the village.
On September 5, a mass and prayers will be offered at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong.
From September 6 to 9, the Mother Teresa Film Festival will be held in Shillong where nearly 20 films on the Catholic nun's life will be screened. The festival will also be held in Jowai, West Jaintia Hills, from September 14 to 17.
A series of events and programmes has been planned by the Archdiocese of Guwahati in association with all religious institutions.
Don Bosco School at Panbazar will celebrate the sainthood of Mother Teresa with three-day events from September 9. While renowned academician and poet Amarjyoti Choudhury will recite a poem on the Nobel peace prize winner, singer Tarali Sarma will sing a special number remembering her service.
There will also a peace rally, a fest, a teachers' seminar on the Joy of Giving and a Rotary Walkathon.
Fr V.M. Thomas, the Salesian Provincial of Guwahati, who will attend the canonisation ceremony in Rome, told The Telegraph that Mother Teresa had visited the Northeast several times in association with her charity work.
"The events to celebrate the canonisation have been initiated and designed to promote peace, love and harmony in the region on Mother Teresa's ideals," Fr Thomas said.
While the church leaders in Manipur are planning as how to celebrate the canonisation in a befitting manner, many church leaders and Salesian workers from the lower Assam districts will go and join their counterparts in Calcutta to celebrate the event.
Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal will attend a public function on Mother Teresa's canonisation scheduled to be held at the auditorium of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on September 12.
