Mother Teresa’s letter to Gilroy Catholic College visits the school days before she is made a saint

A LETTER penned by Mother Teresa to Gilroy Catholic College is travelling around western Sydney days before she is canonised.

Mother Teresa wrote a letter to Gilroy back in 1986 which is now one of her relics before she becomes a saint. Photo: Phil Rogers

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A SHORT and sweet letter — no more than a page long — will be travelling to more than 70 Catholic schools and parishes across western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

It’s no ordinary message though; the 1986 letter addressed to Gilroy Catholic College students was penned by Mother Teresa who will be canonised in Rome on September 4.

The letter was scribbled on a piece of paper by the Albanian-born nun and presented to former Gilroy teacher Father Paul Roberts in India for him to read to students in Castle Hill.

(FILES) This file photo taken on February 03, 1986 shows Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II waving to well-wishers, at the Nirmal Hriday Home, in Calcutta. The Vatican committee that approves elevations to sainthood will meet on March 15, 2016 to consider a recommendation that Mother Teresa of Calcutta becomes Saint Theresa, the Holy See announced on March 14, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JEAN-CLAUDE DELMAS

Back then, Gilroy College had only been opened for six years and had nowhere near the enrolment numbers of today’s 1150 students.

The heartfelt letter forms part of Mother Teresa’s relics on her path to sainthood. A relic is an item or memento which was owned or used by a saint and is highly revered in the Catholic Church.

Gilroy College held a mass and formal procession at the Marie St school on Monday along with relics of Saint Mary Mackillop; the first and only Australian to be made a saint. Principal Cheryl Merryweather said it was a good opportunity for Gilroy students to be inspired by Mother Teresa’s values.

Dominic Betros, Principal Cheryl Merryweather, Caitlin Angseesing, Juliet Shoebridge, Tracy Turini, Elise Suann, Justin Yu. Mother Teresa wrote a letter to Gilroy back in 1986 which is now one of her relics before she becomes a saint. It will be at the school as the relics make a tour of western Sydney.

“She valued community, compassion and mercy,” she said.

“Mother Teresa is a more modern figure for the students to relate to and this relic will provide them with inspiration.

“We do a lot of social justice work and work for the less fortunate. We are a Catholic community who believes that no one is left behind.”

Year 11 students Tracy Turini and Elise Suann said they had grown up understanding Mother Teresa as a “good Samaritan” who made a difference helping the poor in Calcutta, India.

“I always knew she was a kind person who helped the poor,” Tracy said.

“(This letter) will continue to inspire us to help others and be selfless.”

Mother Teresa wrote a letter to Gilroy back in 1986 which is now one of her relics before she becomes a saint. It will be at the school as the relics make a tour of western Sydney.

******AFP PIC - FEE PAYABLE CHECK BEFORE USE****** A file/photo taken 15 May 1997 -- Mother Teresa greeting people at the Missionaries of Charity for destitute/children in New/Delhi. Mother Teresa died 5/9/97 she was 87 Headshot alone india

Elise said: “What Mother Teresa did is what our school is about; her work supports the underprivileged.”

The girls felt honoured their school would be forever tied to the global icon.

In a fitting tribute, the school has decided its patron saint will be Saint Mary MacKillop. Ms Merryweather said Mother Teresa would potentially play a part at the school as well.

THE LETTER:

Keep the joy of loving Jesus in your hearts and share this joy with all you meet especially the lonely and the unwanted.

God bless you. Teresa

Remember the works of love are the works for peace.

The relics will also be visiting other schools in the area including St Gabriel’s Castle Hill, Marian College, St Madeleine’s Primary School, St Bernadette’s Primary School, St Michael’s Primary, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, St Angela’s Primary, St Paul the Apostle and Our Lady of the Rosary Primary.