Aurora's Our Lady of Mercy Church celebrates canonization of Mother Teresa Sept. 4

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, founder of the Missionaries of Charity who dedicated her life helping India's poor, will be canonized on Sunday, Sept. 4. To commemorate her canonization, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, 701 S. Eola Road in Aurora, will host two important events.

On the weekend of Aug. 20-21, the parish will host a first class relic of Blessed Mother Teresa, courtesy of the generosity and kindness of the Missionaries of Charity in Chicago. The community is invited to spend time in veneration and prayer of this relic on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Aug. 21, between Masses (7, 9:30, 10:45 a.m., 12:30 and 5:30 p.m.) beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 4, there will be a special Mass in celebration of Blessed Mother Teresa's canonization at 5:30 p.m. A light reception will follow which will include Indian food, music, and opportunities to learn more about Blessed Mother Teresa and her religious order, the Missionaries of Charity.

Mother Teresa will be declared a saint by Pope Francis Sept. 4. The announcement regarding her canonization was made by the Pope in March. Her canonization follows a life dedicated to helping India's poor. In 1977, Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts. At the time of her death in 1977, the Missionaries of Charity numbered more then 4,000, in addition to thousands more lay volunteers, with 610 foundations in 123 countries around the world.

For more information, visit www.olmercy.com.