The Second Call

On September 10, Sister Teresa left for Darjeeling . It was the most important journey of her life. It was then that she really heard Gods' voice. His message was clear- She had to leave the convent to help and lived with the poorest of the poor. Sister Teresa did not know what to do at that time but prayed, talked with some other sisters and asked her superior, who sent her to see the archbishop of Calcutta, Mgr. Perrier. She explained to him her vocation, but he refused to give her the permission. He talked it over with Father Henry. They thought over the problem thoroughly. The bishop told Sister Teresa to pray over this decision for at least a year or to join the Daughters of Saint Anna ---- sisters wearing a dark blue sari and working among the the poor. Sister Teresa did not consider that a good idea. She wanted to live among the poor.  After a year, Sister Teresa renewed her intention again, the bishop wanted to grant her the permission but decided to ask the permission from Rome and from the Mother general in Dublin. This decision took a long time. 

In 1948, she received the permission to leave the Loreto community under the condition to keep the vows of poverty, purity and obedience. She was 38 then. She changed the religious Loreto robe to a cheap white and blue sari. First, she went to Patna to follow a nursing training so that she could help the poor in their dirty, sickening habitation. This medical training was indispensable for the fulfilment of her new call. 

The superior in Patna, gave her good advice when Sister Teresa talked about her wish to live and care for the poor.