By Celine Freitas

I first met Mother Teresa over 40 years ago when she came to my hometown of Jamshedpur, which is not far from Calcutta. Here, my father, John D'Costa, volunteered to be her "right-hand man," helping her deal with red tape and driving her around the city. At the time, Mother Teresa was establishing a convent for her sisters, a home for the destitute and an orphanage.

On her visits to Jamshedpur, she visited our home and identified an opportunity to set up a weekly "dispensary" in our garage. From this dispensary, her Missionaries of Charity gave out free basic medications to the needy for minor ailments.  Once a month, Mother Teresa arranged for a priest to come to our home to say Mass, which was open to nearby residents. Sometimes she would attend these Masses.

As time went by, Mother Teresa didn't need to come to Jamshedpur as often, yet she continued to keep in touch with my family. In fact, after I moved to Canada, she asked about me, my husband and children and sent us a small autographed memento.  Also, when we visited Jamshedpur at a later date, she took time out of her busy schedule to meet us.

Much has been written about Mother Teresa and I would like to add my observations of what I found so compelling about her. Warm and caring, she took a personal interest in those who crossed her path and remembered details about them. Her keen mind was totally focused on the opportunities and people from whom she could get the maximum benefit for the impoverished. She had the confidence that her intended projects, however seemingly impossible, would be realized. Of course, she would successfully complete most. It helped that not many, from the most powerful on down, would refuse her requests.

This is the Mother Teresa that I got to know and admire.