Memorial Mass for Mother Teresa in Newark Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick of Newark will be the principal celebrant at a Memorial Mass for Mother Teresa to be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on Saturday, September 13, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. The Missionary Sisters of Charity (the order of religious founded by Mother Teresa) in the Archdiocese, along with the Archbishop, invite all those who wish to attend the Mass. The sisters have been deluged with telephone calls about a public Mass in honor of Mother Teresa. The Missionary Sisters of Charity maintain two convents in the Archdiocese, one in Newark and one in Plainfield. The sisters felt it fitting to celebrate the Mass on the same day (September 13) on which Mother Teresa will be buried in Calcutta, India. Sister Noreen the Superior of the Newark Convent said that she hoped that many of Mothers supporters and friends would attend the Mass with the sisters. Sister Noreen said that "Mother Teresa was truly our mother and sister. She loved each one of us equally and unconditionally. We are joyful in the knowledge that Mother is with Our Heavenly Father and lives in the light of His love." In inviting the people of the Archdiocese of Newark to join in the Mass, Archbishop McCarrick stated that it would be a time for all who respected what Mother Teresa did in this world to join in prayer and thanksgiving for her life. The Archbishop told the sisters that "many years ago Mother heard the call of the Lord. She heard Him say that the poorest of the poor shall inherit the kingdom. She heard Him say that we should love the poor, help the poor, live with the poor and champion the poor. That has been her lifelong response to the Gospel call. How fitting it is that we can come together to celebrate Mother Teresa's life, truly a great gift from God."
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