Be the change, Be ‘Mother Teresa’, that was the message that came from the inter-faith committee meeting that was held in Auckland recently. This is an annual event held by The Mother Teresa Centennial Committee. This year’s meeting was held on November 21at Christ the King Church, Auckland and saw the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, attending and addressing the gathering. Mr Lotu-Iiga said, “In today’s world, the teaching of love, of Mother Teresa is even more important than ever before.”
DrJebamalai, the former Principal Adviser to the Director General, UNIDO, Vienna, Austria and Chairman, Experience Foundation was the Guest Speaker this year. Dr Jebamalai mentioned about his experiences in Africa and how he worked to make a change following the teachings of Mother Teresa. He said, “If you want to be a true follower of the Mother, then become the Mother. Spread Love and caring and make the change.”
The Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Diocese Patrick Dunn also addressed the gathering and said that Mother Teresa’s message of love is the most important to heal the world. Bishop Dunn lit the lamp, along with the other dignitaries present.
The convener of the inter-faith committee, Mr Wenceslaus Anthony, emphasised the need to start spreading love from your immediate circle, from your family and community. He said, “If everyone starts taking care of people in their immediate community or event one person of a family in need, the world would be a better place.” Mr Anthony also showed a video clip of Mother’s message to the people. This was a ‘direct message from the Mother’, and everyone loved to see it.
Mr Anthony quoted Gandhiji: “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” Gandhiji like Mother Teresa was propagating Love and Peace.
He said that if we have an eye for eye in the family and in the community, the family and the community will be blind. However, if we practice what Mother Teresa and Gandhiji preached to radiate love and oeace, we will have clear vision and enjoy the joy and the beauty of this world for which we have been created by the Almighty.
The meeting saw an impressive line-up of dignitaries, from the sitting parliament MP Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, to the chargé d'affaires Indian High Commission, Mr Sandeep Sood. There was representation from NZ Police, with inspector Rakesh Nidoo.
As part of the proceedings, there were hymns and prayers from various faiths. Also students from St Mary’s school, Avondale, gave a beautiful rendition of We are the world. Among those on the committee are representatives of the Hindu, Muslim, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs and Zoroastrians communities from around the Auckland region.
Background:
The Mother Teresa Centennial Committee was established in 2010 to commemorate the centenary of Mother Teresa and was renamed as ‘The Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee’, which comprises representatives of most religions and faiths. It is a non-political and not-for-profit organisation. Rt. Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, who was then Governor-General, was the Guest Speaker at the Celebration held on November 7. Due to the good response, the Committee decided that we would hold this event annually.
His Excellency Adm. (Retd) Sureesh Mehta then Indian High Commissioner to NZ, Hon Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of the Indian State of West Bengal and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari (the first Governor General of Independent India), His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, (Prince of Arcot, Chennai, India), Hon. Bill English, Dy. Prime Minister and Hon.Peseta Sam Minister for Ethnic Communities were the ChiefGuests in the past years. There was a good turnout every year.