September 5th is the Feast of Saint Teresa of Calcutta -- known to the world first as Mother Teresa. The date also marks the anniversary of her death. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu to Albanian parents in what is now the Republic of Macedonia, this tiny girl would grow up to have an oversized impact on the world through her charity, faith, and steely determination.

Her single-minded mission was drawing the world's attention to the suffering poor. Her work began in the slums Calcutta, India; she ministered to street people, lepers, and those she called, "the unwanted, the unloved, the uncared for."

As her fame grew, people flocked to her, asking if they could work alongside her and her Missionaries of Charity.

Often enough, her answer was very direct: "Find your own Calcutta."

This sainted woman knew that people were suffering everywhere. You simply need to open your eyes, and truly look, to see them. Once seen, they cannot be ignored, if you are a person of faith.

So, how does that play out in one's life? Well, it's as different as each person. Perhaps, God is calling you to "go, sell what you have and give to the poor..." (Mt 19:21), and find a place of life-long, faith-filled service. Maybe a religious vocation is your calling. Too radical?

Maybe a short-term mission trip is for you. I know someone who spends two weeks every year working in a Honduran orphanage. She's not a medical worker, she's a mom. She knows how to love and how to see Jesus in everyone she meets. Great qualifications. Still too much? That's ok!

Does your parish (or one near you) have a Mission Prayer and Support Group? If not, you can start one. It's how Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. She got ten people to agree to meet regularly to pray for missionaries and their ministries, and to support them with a small sacrifice each time they met. When the first ten were secure, she started another group -- she called them Prayer Circles. Is one in your future? We'd love to help you start with World Mission Rosaries, mission stories, and ideas for prayer sessions. This would be a great year to start -- it's the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday!

At the end of the day, if all this is beyond your personal scope, you can pray, daily, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be spread to the ends of the earth. And you can give to the missions and do it regularly so that the work can be done.

Everyone has their own Calcutta. You just need to look deep into your heart to find it.



- Maureen Crowley Heil is Director of Programs and Development for the Pontifical Mission Societies, Boston.