Getting to know St Teresa of Calcutta through her biographer, Father Don Lush Gjergji

by Kati Dijane · September 5, 2025

On September 4, 2016, during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was canonised a saint by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. She was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to the poor, especially the destitute of India.

Far East Rand Catholic News interviewed Father Don Lush Gjergji, Saint Teresa’s biographer and vicar general of Kosovo Diocese on May 22, 2016. We re-publish it from their archives.

When did you personally meet Saint Mother Teresa?

I met her on the 29th of March 1969, in the peripheries of Rome. She had come on the invitation of Saint Pope Paul VI to open a house for the Missionaries of Charity for poor and abandoned people.

Tell us about her family background. What role do you think her parents played in her Catholic faith?

Two environments educated and created Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, the future Mother Teresa: the Madonna Ausiliatrice parish in Prizren, from where her parents had received a profound Christian education, and the Sacred Heart parish at Shkupi Skopje, where she was born, baptised, received first Holy Communion and confession and even her vocation as a religious sister to be a missionary in service of the poor of the world. The second environment is her family. Her father, Kole Bojaxhiu (1873-1919), and her mother, Drane Bojaxhiu, who was born as Bernaj (1889-1972). The profoundly Christian life, the devotion to the Madonna, daily regular prayer and the practice of generosity towards the poor were the pillars of the future education and vocation of Mother Teresa. Great parents and exemplary parishes give birth and help grow good Christians and great saints.

What did you personally learn about Mother Teresa during her life on earth?

I have learnt many things: a faith that is alive and concrete, a love immersed towards God and neighbour, full trust, total relinquishment to divine providence, the desire to take Jesus to every corner of the world, simplicity, humility, that which I have called ‘love in action’.

My knowledge, friendship and collaboration with Mother Teresa strengthened me in my priestly vocation; it gave me a boost, enthusiasm to love God, the church and every human being, without distinguishing. She is my ‘second mother’, the mother of my priestly vocation.

What do you hope that the world will learn from Mother Teresa?

I hope that the world may learn to love all unconditionally; without any distinctions because it is only through love that the world will have a serene and certain future. The lesson of Mother Teresa is simple: “Only love will save the world. Without sacrifice and love, life has no sense”.

Why is the feast of Mother Teresa (05 September) important to your diocese?

Because Mother Teresa is the glorious daughter of our church who represents our Christian story, especially our culture and civilisation, as well as the respect she had for life, from conception to death. She is cherished and loved by all: Muslims and Christians, as a bridge of unity and love for our Albanese people.

Do you know if Mother Teresa had a role model and who was her patron saint?

She had, as a model of life and sanctity: St Therese of the Child Jesus, who had a special devotion to the Eucharist and Mary.

What is your advice to other Catholics regarding their faith?

To be Catholic today means to have the strength and courage to live with God and love your neighbour as Mother Teresa did. Faith is nourished by spiritual and sacramental life in two spheres: in the family and in the parish community.