Mother Teresa was canonized today at a grand ceremony in the Vatican today.
As the solemn canonization ceremony bestowed sainthood on Mother Teresa in faraway Rome, members of the Darjeeling branch of the Lay Missionaries of Charity) today took an 8-km ride on the iconic Darjeeling toy train to retrace the trip Mother Teresa took on September 10, 1946.
"We wished to experience what Mother Teresa must have felt during that time of September 10, 1946 when she got the 'call within the call' during her trip from the plains (NJP-Siliguri) to Darjeeling and her life's course changed forever," Father Peter Lingdam, LMC's Darjeeling Branch Director said.
"Today's ride in the toy train is symbolic. Maybe some of us will also be enlightened like her," Father Lingdam said. On September 10, 1946, during her journey to Darjeeling in the toy train the Mother received the "call within the call" within her soul and the course of her life was decided, the Fr Lingdam said.
Lay Missionaries of Charity (LMC) is an International Association of 'lay persons' (married and single) adhering to the Spirit of the Missionaries of Charity.
Listing the day-long programmes in the Hills, coinciding with the canonisation occasion, Fr Lingdam said while special prayers were conducted at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Church in Darjeeling, an all-faith prayer for peace and unity at the Gorkha Ranga Manch Bhawan will also take place with a giant LED screen in Darjeeling town's Chowrasta roundabout, beaming live the canonisation ceremony in Vatican.
Mother Teresa's legacy remains strong in the hills as apart from LMC chapters, branches of the MC (Missionaries of Charity) continue to work for the welfare of the poor, needy and homeless in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions.