Bishop of Baruipur Salvadore Lobo led a Mass marking the beginning of the year-long celebration in the Baruipur diocese in South 24 Parganas district. In his homily, the bishop said the Mass was central to Mother Teresa's life who would attend it every morning before going out to work. The bishop called upon the worshippers to be channels of peace as the Mother herself exhorted the Missionaries of Charity nuns to be.
"Each one of you can be ambassadors of peace and stop violence in a world that is riddled with so much conflict and violence," the bishop said. The mass was concelebrated by 14 other priests from various diocese. Bishop Lobo, who knew Mother Teresa since 1968, had also headed the diocesan enquiry team set up for the Mother's beatification.