Special prayers, processions in Ker mark Mother’s canonisation

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 4 (PTI) Special prayers and massprocessions were organised by churches in Kerala to celebratethe proclamation of Mother Teresa as a saint at the Vatican. Hundreds of devotees took part in a procession organisedat St Joseph Church here, while a special Holy Mass held at StAntony’s Church at nearby Kochuthura, was also attended by alarge number of parishioners. Archbishop of Latin Archdiocese Soosai Pakiam led theprayers and gave a special message to the devotees at StAntony’s Church. Hundreds of people also took part in the special prayersorganised at nearby Kurishumala pilgrim centre, marking theelevation of the Nobel prize laureate to the sainthood. Devotees released 1,001 colourful balloons, bearing theimage of the Mother, at St Joseph’s Church in Pushpagiri inThellakam in Kottayam district, where Archbishop Mar JosephPowathil led special prayers. A large number of people gathered at the church premiseswhen the canonisation ceremonies were shown live on the bigscreen there. Mother Teresa was today proclaimed a saint by PopeFrancis, who hailed her as the personification of maternallove and a powerful advocate for the poor. The canonisation mass in the Vatican was attended by100,000 pilgrims, including 13 heads of state or governmentand hundreds of nuns from Teresa’s order, the Missionaries ofCharity. The ceremony came on the eve of the 19th anniversary ofTeresa’s death in Kolkata, where she spent nearly four decadesworking for the destitute. PTI LGK UD APRBSA