MOTHER EXPRESS
IN THE DIOCESE OF BARODA
Indian Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee launched "Mother Express" a train with three air conditioned coaches exhibiting the life, message and works of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata on the occasion of her birth centenary.
Mother Express started from Sealdah station in Kolkata and will be stationed at different places in the country for the next six months.
The train was stationed in two places in the Diocese of Baroda namely: SURAT (29th and 30th November) and BARODA (1st and 2nd December).
There was a lot of joy and eagerness among the people of different religions to join in the celebration and to honour the 'Woman' they admired and who had inspired them through her life, work and message.
There was a solemn programme organized on December 1st on platform N0. 6 of Baroda (Vadodara) station. People of different religions, children from various schools, institutions all gathered at the station waiting eagerly for the arrival of the "Mother Express".
The programme began at 10.00 a.m. Mrs. Mary D'souza, who anchored the ceremony for the occasion began the celebration by welcoming the Chief Guest, all the dignitaries, people and children. Most Rev. Bishop Godfrey de Rosario, the Bishop of Baroda was the Chief Guest. The other dignitaries present were Mr. Shrivastava (Baroda Division Manager of Railways), Ms. Lilly Pandey (Senior member of Railways), Sr. Sara Grace (Regional Superior of Mother Teresa congreation), Sr. Rozaria (Provincial of Jesus and Mary Congregation) and other railway staff personnel, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers.
As the lamp was being lit by the Chief Guest and dignitaries the "Mother Express" arrived bringing joy on the faces of one and all. There was a loud applause as Mother Express gracefully moved.
After the lighting of the lamp, Ms. Lily Pandey on behalf of the Railways welcomed everyone for the occassion and spoke on the reason for the launching of the Mother Express. She spoke eloquently and appreciated the great work that Mother Teresa has done for the people of India at large.
The children of Jesus and Mary Convent Baroda brought a prayerful atmostphere with their prayer dance. They communicated the message through their dance that just as single drops of water fills the ocean so also has Mother Teresa of Kolkata filled the this world with her love and compassion.
The sisters of Mother Teresa sang a hymn thanking God for the gift of Mother Teresa. They sang her praises and extolled her virtues through their hymn.
The children of Snehalaya (Don Bosco) danced gracefully on different tunes bringing the message of National Integration. The world today is torn by communalism and religious intolerance. Through their dance they potraiyed Mother as a person who went all out of her way to bring joy, happiness and healing in the lives of the poor and abandoned irrespective of caste, creed and religion. She served all like her Master Jesus Christ.
The cute angelic faces of St. Joseph's School put up a song while depicting scenes of the life and work of Mother Teresa. It was inspiring to see the children dressed like Mother caring for the sick, lepers, blind, homeless.
The children of Stella Mary School danced on the music of "Ye Malik tere bandhe hum". We are all the children of God and we are called to live a good life and serve all. A message that Mother lived out in her life.
The choir of Rosary Parish sang beautifully three hymns in praise of Mother Teresa.
Bishop Godfrey de Rosario, the guest then addressed the august gathering. He spoke of Mother as a person who spoke the language of LOVE, a language that all can understand. He compared her with the GOOD SAMARITAN who looked out at different places to nurse, to care for those who are abandoned by all. He said that the Jesus Christ was the model of her life and activity and she saw Him and served Him in all especially the poorest of the poor.
Mr. Shrivastava, the Baroda Division Manager of Railways reinforced what Bishop Godfrey said by once again reminding us that Mother spoke the lannguage of love. He invited all the learn from her and be models of compassion. He thanked all those present for the occassion and invited all to see the exhibition on the life, message and works of Mother put up in the Mother Express.
After this Bishop Godfrey, Mr. Shrivastava and the other dignitaries followed by the children entered the Mother Express to see the displays.
Mrs. Mary D'souza invited the children to participate in the different competitions which would be organized during the two days namely: rangoli competition, drawing competition, collage making competition, etc.
Different schools from and around baroda had come to see and be a part of this occasion.
The Mother Teresa sisters distributed pictures and medals to all who had come for the occassion. It was a grand success and a day of inspiration for all.
We thank Fr. Lester SDB for planning out and executing the whole programme. Thanks Fr. Lester and your team. The Socom-baroda wants to thank all the Railways staff, school principals, teachers and others who have helped in making this event a memorable one. May our good Mother bless us all from heaven and intercede for us. We wait anxiously for the day when our Mother will be declared a SAINT. Do pray for this cause.
