Churchgoers Recall Mother Teresa’s Visit To New Bedford

While most of the world celebrated Mother Teresa's canonization in Rome, many locals honored her life at New Bedford's St. Lawrence Martyr Church on Sunday afternoon.

Now being called St. Teresa of Calcutta, she visited St. Lawrence Church back in 1995.

Many people at Sunday's special mass remember St. Teresa's visit, including Clivia Rodriguez. She says the experience of meeting St. Teresa was a gift.

"I said 'my Lord'. Here she is 85 years-old, on her knees praying the rosary, just straight on her knees, and I had to sit down in the chair, and I was no near 85 at the time," Rodriguez told WBSM News.

Other churchgoers, like Mike Arruda, said St. Teresa's visit to New Bedford was one of the most important days of his life.

St. Lawrence Church volunteer Bob Horta personally met St. Teresa that day. He says she met with all the volunteers who help around the church, and spent some quality time with them in a small chapel.

"I couldn't tell you how many people fit in there but, we all sat on the floor with her while she spoke and prayed with us, and I can't expain the feeling of peace and the excitement that we had, but it was just an amazing thing to be there with her," Horta said.

She died two years after visiting New Bedford at the age of 87.

Pope Francis conducted St. Teresa's canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City on Sunday.