The Missionaries of Charity is enjoying steady growth even though it was widely predicted that the order might shrink after the death of its founder Mother Teresa 10 years ago The Catholic World Report (November) notes that the number of Missionaries of Charity homes, which stood at 594 in 1997, now total 757, spreading to 134 countries (with Afghanistan being the latest country of entry). The number of MC nuns have likewise grown from 4,000 to 4,832, with another 800 novices in formation. There have been 7,500 children adopted from MC homes in India from 1997 to the present, compared to 2,052 orphans given in international adoption from India during the same period.
Even as the MC has been actively promoting the cause of Mother Teresa’s sainthood, the order has made some significant changes. The order now focuses on the rehabilitation of the disabled rather than just administering pallative care, as was the case previously. MC nuns are now sent to paramedical training courses. Writer Anto Akkara concludes that Mother Teresa’s dream of establishing the MC in China has yet to be fulfilled and will have to wait for the normalization of the relationship between the Vatican and China.
(Catholic World Report, P.O. Box 46, Bathgate, ND 58216-0046)