By Sarah Mac Donald - 16 March, 2016
The Primate of All Ireland will preside at a Mass this evening in Armagh for the four Missionaries of Charity and 12 people who were brutally murdered in a home for the elderly in Yemen on 4 March.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said the Mass in St Malachy’s church will also be held for Blessed Mother Teresa, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, who will be canonised on Sunday 4 September, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, Archbishop Martin said the news that Pope Francis has signed the decree for canonisation was “wonderful” and that from September the Universal Church would formally acknowledge Blessed Mother Teresa as one among the communion of saints.
“Blessed Mother Teresa is much loved in Ireland having been a frequent visitor to our country during her lifetime,” he said.
He recalled that at eighteen years of age, she came to study English and begin her life as a nun with the Loreto Sisters in Dublin.
“In this Year of Mercy, I am especially conscious and express my profound gratitude to the Missionaries of Charity, the religious congregation founded by Blessed Mother Teresa, for their selfless outreach and ministry serving the homeless and hungry here in the Archdiocese of Armagh.”
He said this evening’s Mass in St Malachy’s would be attended by Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity living locally, and would be offered for the intentions of the 4,500 worldwide members of the congregation.
Prayers will be said for the four Missionary of Charity nuns slain in Yemen – Sisters Anselm, Margherite, Reginette and Judith – and their co-workers.
“Their faith, life and death provide a very strong witness to all Christians at this time,” the Archbishop said.
