One could regard that fortunate meeting in Atlanta as a synchronistic event, yet I have always viewed it as a miraculous encounter, intended to guide me from the shadows of my life and onto the spiritual journey. In Mother Teresa, I discerned the ideal means to connect my compassion for the impoverished through my documentary efforts and transform it into truly recognizing Jesus in the destitute, the dying, and the forsaken children. Mother Teresa once took Bishop William Curlin of Charlotte, North Carolina, onto the streets of Calcutta after inquiring if he wished to meet Jesus. When they encountered a dying individual, Mother Teresa knelt beside him and held him in her arms, declaring, “This is Jesus.”

Calcutta

Upon my arrival in Calcutta, India, in August 1995, I was unaware of what lay ahead. Mother Teresa welcomed me in the corridor of the motherhouse and initially refused my request to record the activities at the facilities set up throughout the vast city. Instead, she directed me to volunteer at Shishu Bhavan, the children’s residence located adjacent to the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity.

Every morning, I participated in Mass at the austere chapel. Mother Teresa was seldom seen, nestled on a straw mat, immersed in prayer. Following Mass, she frequently welcomed guests on a battered wooden bench in the corridor.

It was at this point, following numerous additional requests, that she ultimately granted me written consent to take photographs inside the homes. As she passed me that thin piece of pink paper featuring her handwritten message, permitting me access to the initiative she launched in the 1950s, I was filled with a deep sense of thankfulness and inclusion.

Special request

That November, I received an unforeseen inquiry from the Missionaries of Charity sisters — to capture the ceremony of vows for a group of sisters taking their initial vows to the order. Every possible mishap that day occurred. One of my cameras malfunctioned, and my flash’s battery pack expired. I embarked on a search for an electronics store close to the notorious Howrah railway station in the center of Calcutta.

Then, I remembered Mother Teresa advising me to pray. So I positioned myself at a street corner and prayed to God for help. It was a new experience for me. Almost right away, I discovered a small store, and after asking for help, a clerk adjusted some of the wires in the battery, and the light turned on. I was taken aback with astonishment. I signaled for a taxi and barely arrived on time at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, situated close to the motherhouse.

Mother figure

This is where I saw Mother Teresa embodying the essence of the maternal figure. A row of sisters stood assembled outside the doorway of the church, their handwritten promises held tightly in their grasp. Mother Teresa wandered near the gathering, and it was clear they reveled in her presence.

Msgr. John Esseff from Scranton, Pennsylvania, a spiritual advisor for Mother Teresa, shared with me, “The sisters are her children, and they are pivotal to her mission.”

The setting sun cast a surreal glow around the assembly as they were gently guided into the sanctuary. It was here that I truly sensed the profound influence a small nun had on transforming the world with her legendary call to relieve the distress of the impoverished.

In 2015, I participated in a Mass for the profession of vows at the same church, this occasion without Mother Teresa present. I was seated next to Sister Tarcisia, the 18th member to enter the order. Tears streamed down my cheeks throughout the ceremony, and once again, I silently expressed my gratitude to Mother Teresa in my prayers for changing the course of my life.

As soon as Pope Francis announced that Mother Teresa would be made a saint in the Church, I secured my flight to Rome. At that moment, I was employed at a private women’s university in Saudi Arabia. I took an unpaid leave from my teaching responsibilities to witness the canonization. It was an extremely hot day on September 4, 2016. I was among the first in line at 4:30 a.m. The entrance to St. Peter’s Square opened just as the sun was ascending over the cathedral.

One of my initial reflections was that, at one point, I could be seated by myself with Mother Teresa on that wooden bench and converse with her face-to-face. Now, I must share her with the world, and I can do that most effectively by carrying on my documentary efforts regarding her legacy, which continues to motivate millions in their journey of faith.

Upon the establishment of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, Mother Teresa dedicated the order to Mother Mary, and her unwavering commitment was centered on quenching Jesus’s thirst for souls as expressed on the cross. Her call to engage in this mission extended across more than 136 nations and numerous households. For those of us who experienced her presence, it feels nearly impossible to discuss her without becoming emotional. Through a series of coincidental events, we found ourselves partaking in a cause greater than what words can express.

Linda Schaefer is an author and photographer who wrote “Encountering Mother Teresa” (OSV, $39.95).