Mother Teresa’s Visit 1995

Thirty years ago on June 15, 1995, Mother Teresa—now St. Teresa of Calcutta—visited Our Lady’s Church. We are delighted to share with you some of the photos and memories that were shared with the staff. Thanks to those who submitted them! 



"I was one of the servers at the Mass held in her honor at Our Lady’s Church. After the Mass, out of the thousands that came to see her, I was one of the very few that had the honor of meeting her. We (the four other servers and myself) were able to talk and meet with her privately. Even though we towered over her physically, our entire group was awestruck while in her presence.She said very little, and yet what she said was personal and loving. It made us feel as if we had known her for years, but still she drew our deepest respect. Her message was real." —Michael Dobies (shown in photo)


"I will never forget that day. I didn’t make it into the church but waited outside. A line had formed on both sides waiting for her to come out. I was so touched as how small she was but so powerful. She went over to a student who was inGrade 8 who was in a wheelchair. She was in a car accident and was paralyzed. My daughter was in her class, and they both went to Our Lady’s back in the day. She stopped, spoke to her, hugged her, and then blessed her. God bless her in the heavens." —Terry Sauro

"Marie Gentile was determined to meet Mother Teresa during her visit to Newton. At 6AM on June 15,1995, Marie’s PCA got her dressed and up in her wheelchair – Marie’s twin sister and their mom all headed to Our Lady’s Church. Upon arriving, Marie was told that there were no seats left inside. Hearing that, Marie’s twin sister was disappointed saying, “Mother Teresa set aside a certain number of seats for the disabled.” Father McInerny, Secretary to Cardinal Law, approached and said, “You have one visibly upset sister. Come follow me.” Father McInerny led us across the grass, onto the sidewalk, and through the front entrance gate. We secured a spot outside on the opposite side of the security barriers. Mother Teresa arrived and before entering the church she approached Marie, and their hands joined. Marie considered meeting Mother Teresa one of the highlights of her life." —Susan Gentile


"Our daughter Katie was the first female altar server at Our Lady’s and was asked to serve at the Mass on June 15, 1995. She was12, and Mother Teresa gave her a wooden cross to wear and told her she would pray for her to have a vocation. That didn't happen, but Katie is doing important work as an immigration attorney, and we are very proud of her. The Mass was very crowded, so we watched the broadcast on TV from home. Our most vivid memory is of seeing a pair of shaky hands holding up the large, heavy book the cardinal was reading from.We both held our breath, praying that Katie wouldn’t drop that book!" —Carole & Bob Kavanagh

"A bustling parking lot - fuller than I’d ever seen it - a wave of people heading inside the church and spilling out onto the lawn…inside: candles, incense, regal robes and fancy clerical hats, a grand procession! At the heart of this extra-special Mass: a petite woman in a simple white garment, edged in dark blue stripes, with kind wrinkles marking her serene face. I don’t recall the words she spoke (surely a loving,hopeful and peaceful message!) but as a 7-year-old attendee of Mother Teresa’s visit to Our Lady’s I do recall the crowds and fanfare of the day! Apart from my surprise and joy to be excused from school, I most remember walking down the aisle for communion. When we passed the front pew where Mother Teresa was seated in prayer, my mother (eager to be closer to her beatific presence!) gently touched her shoulder and was chided kindly by another nun, while a sense of true awe washed over me. How important this person must be to have so many people and attendants around her!" —Chrissy Dobies Figuerola


"As a first grader in1995, I did not grasp the significance of Mother Teresa’s visit. I surmised it was important because we were skipping school to go to church, and we never missed school. The afternoon before, my brother was at Our Lady’s rehearsing as an altar server. While my sisters and I watched the jumbotrons being set up on the front lawn, our mother struck up a conversation with a couple in the parking lot who had come from the south shore. They had had trouble securing a hotel so planned to sleep in their car. Those who know Carolyn Dobies can appreciate that she had another plan, and - needless to say - they slept on the pull-out couch in our living room that night. I forget what was said at the Mass (distracted by my itchy dress, the heat of the large crowd, and my being about 4’ tall which made it difficult to glimpse Mother Teresa’s petite stature). I do however remember the example of love my mother showed in opening our home to strangers, and the keychain she still has that reads “not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love”. —Mary Dobies Yasuda


"It was something else…Definitely, there was a feeling - you felt something - when she went by. I mean, she was just a tiny bit of thing, but you felt something when she walked by you or in the crowd. I couldn’t see her, but she went by going from the church and you just felt a presence. I’ve never felt that before, but it was something amazing. I couldn’t get in– I was one of the last people who didn’t quite make it into the church because it was so full. My mom made it inside, butI felt a presence when she went by." —Francine Crognale





Photos courtesy of Carolyn Dobies and Susan Gentile, as well as from Our Lady’s archives