On behalf of myself, Fr Badaoui and my Brother Priests, we would ...

The following morning our bus took us to St Johns Convent where Sister Rafqa is Superior and
has about 14 contemplatives under her wings. St Johns is situated next to the main rail station in
K o l k a t a c a l l e d S h a l d e a h a n d o u t s i d e t h e g a t e s i s a v o l u m e o f p e o p l e b e g g i n g , s e l l i n g t h e i r g o o d s ,
cooking food to sell or hurrying to catch a train. However once inside the convent, there is peace
and solitude with a garden at the back and a cemetery where nuns and priests are buried.
We were greeted by the Sisters where they put garlands around our necks and sang for us. Sister
Rafqa took us on the local train to a Leprosy Centre in Titagarh, which was founded by Mother
Teresa. It is run by 8 Missionaries of Charity Brothers. The train ride there, and long walk to the
convent, was an experience on its own. There are people living along the railway lines making a living
off cow dung. This they dry and sell for fire wood, and also use to plaster their homes outside to keep
mosquitoes away. Imagine the smell!!
Brother Michael welcomed us into the centre
and took us on a tour of the colony - which
i s n e a t , c l e a n a n d w e l l r u n . W i t h i n t h e c e n t r e
t h e r e i s a l o n g r o o m w h e r e m e n a r e w o r k i n g o n
t h e l o o m s a n d l a d i e s s i t t i n g o n t h e f l o o r s
s p i n n i n g t h e c o t t o n f o r t h e m . T h e y m a k e s a r i s
f o r t h e n u n s i n a l l t h e c o n v e n t s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d
f o r t h e M o t h e r T e r e s a o r d e r .
W e l e f t K o l k a t a t h e n e x t d a y a n d w e n t o n t o u r
t o N e w D e l h i , A g r a t o s e e t h e T a j M a h a l ,
Japair and Udaipur, returning back to Kolkata
on the 16th.
W e m e t u p w i t h S i s t e r R a f q a a g a i n w h e r e s h e
took us to another home called Shishu
Bhavan which Mother Teresa had opened in
1 9 5 3 f o r a b a n d o n e d a n d m a l n o u r i s h e d c h i l d r e n .
T h e r e a r e o v e r 4 0 0 o f t h e m t h a t a r e a g e d f r o m
new born up to early teens.
BREAKFAST WITH SR RAFKA AND SISTERS
Mar o n i t e Me m o 9