Mother
Teresa

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Teresa felt a calling to religious life early on. At 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto in Dublin, and by 1929, she was in India, where she would commit the majority of her life's work. Deeply moved by the sight of the sick and impoverished on the streets of Calcutta, she felt a profound calling to serve the "poorest of the poor."

In 1950, with church approval, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation dedicated to serving the destitute, regardless of their religion or background. Her tireless efforts, which began as a small charity school, rapidly expanded to numerous homes, hospices, and services for the needy. Mother Teresa's unwavering commitment earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Though she faced her share of critics and challenges, her life, marked by deep faith and boundless compassion, became a beacon of hope for many. Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997, but her legacy of love and service continues to inspire people worldwide.