It was on the 19^th day of October, 2003 when our beloved Mother Teresa of Calcutta has been beatified in Rome by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

Such very memorable occasion has been witnessed by the whole world through a live TV coverage by the several stations.

To honor her, the entire parishioners of Oquendo in particular and the Calbayognons in general, together with the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa based in Oquendo attended the two scheduled Holy Masses held at the Holy Infant Parish Church and the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Calbayog City.  The said masses have been officiated by Very Rev. Msgr. Romulo T. Montero, P.C., Parish Priest of Oquendo and His Excellency Msgr. Jose S. Palma, DD, STD, Bishop of Calbayog respectively.

Agnes Bojaxhiu, or Mother Teresa, died in Calcutta on 5 September 1997.  Very few years after her death – owing to a special disposition of the Holy Father, that has exonerated her from the waiting period of at least five years,  as is the usual custom of the Church – the cause for her beatification has now been concluded.  In fact, the diocesan process in Calcutta ended over a year ago.  All the documents, records and testimonies about Mother Teresa were transferred to Rome to the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity (The male branch of the Order of Mother Teresa), was appointed as the postulator.  The team consisted of 13 people: two priests, Fr. Brian, the postulator, and Fr. Leo Maasburg (who kindly gave us this interview), and eleven Missionary Sisters of Charity.  They worked together for four months until the whole enquiry, consisting of approximately 80,000 pages, was submitted.

The work was divided into two parts;  some worked on her biography, while others considered the heroic virtues of Mother Teresa.  The so-called “Positio” the official beatification request, was completed and submitted immediately after Easter this year.  Now, following close examination by the Theological Commission and by the Cardinals of the Congregation of Sacred Rites, we are waiting for the Holy Father to make an announcement in the Consistory concerning the date for beatification.  It is presumed that beatification will take place by the end of the year or, at the latest, in the spring of 2003.

On the occasion of the anniversary of her death on 5 September, it seemed particularly significant to recall the extraordinary figure of Mother Teresa, the Saint of charitable works for the “poorest of the poor”, whose inimitable smile is missed acutely by everyone… A smile on a face that was etched with wrinkles, but which love made forever youthful looking!

And to obtain an authoritative account, we have interviewed Father Leo Maasburg, the assistant postulator in the beatification process.  He kindly agreed to give us his personal account and to talk to us about Mother Teresa.