Overview

St. Teresa of Calcutta, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was a Catholic nun and missionary who devoted her life to serving “the poorest of the poor.” After joining the Sisters of Loreto, she taught for nearly 20 years before experiencing a “call within a call” to leave the convent and live among those abandoned by society. Founding the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she built a global network of compassion that stretched across continents and religions. Her quiet faith and fierce mercy made her one of the most recognizable moral figures of the 20th century.

Life Story

Early Life
Anjezë was raised in a devout Albanian Catholic family where service and prayer were central. At 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto and left her home for Ireland, then India, taking the name Sister Mary Teresa. She taught geography and catechism at St. Mary’s School in Calcutta for two decades, where her leadership and joy inspired students and fellow sisters alike.

Ministry and Mission
In 1946, while riding a train to Darjeeling, Teresa felt a profound divine summons, a “call within a call.” She was to leave the safety of her convent and live among the poor. After receiving permission from the Vatican, she began wearing a simple white sari with blue stripes and founded the Missionaries of Charity. Her congregation grew to include thousands of sisters, brothers, and volunteers who cared for the dying, the abandoned, and those afflicted by leprosy and HIV/AIDS.

Legacy
Teresa’s ministry captured global attention, earning her the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize and countless humanitarian awards. Yet privately, her letters revealed decades of spiritual darkness, an enduring absence of felt divine presence. Rather than diminishing her faith, this revealed a saint who loved God without consolation. Canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis, she remains a model of humble service, compassion, and perseverance in faith.

Get Involved

• Support or volunteer with local shelters, hospices, or food programs

• Join or donate to the Missionaries of Charity

• Practice one week of intentional mercy: perform one small act of love daily