International documentary on Mother Teresa premiered in Kolkata

Kolkata, September 6, 2026: An international documentary tracing the life, mission and legacy of St. Teresa of Calcutta was premiered on September 5, her feast day, at St. Xavier’s College, Park Street.

Titled Mother Teresa – Prophet of Compassion, the 66-minute documentary was produced by senior journalist Anto Akkara in collaboration with Atmadarshan TV, Indore. The premiere was hosted by the Archdiocese of Calcutta and presided over by Archbishop Elias Frank.

More than 200 people, including dozens of Missionaries of Charity sisters and novices, attended the screening.

The documentary explores Mother Teresa’s “prophetic path of compassion” and its continuation through the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation she founded in 1950. It documents her service to the destitute, children, people affected by leprosy and others living on the margins of society.

Addressing the gathering, Archbishop Frank commended Akkara for documenting Mother Teresa’s work and making her legacy accessible to audiences worldwide. He also recalled the journalist’s perseverance in completing the project after a hard-disk crash resulted in the loss of vital material.

Akkara said his association with the Missionaries of Charity began with a detailed interview with Mother Teresa in 1995. He continued to document the congregation’s work during significant events, including Mother Teresa’s funeral in 1997.

The documentary was conceived as the Missionaries of Charity marked the 75th anniversary of its foundation, with support from Atmadarshan TV, Indore.

The international version also examines allegations of religious conversion levelled against Mother Teresa and presents accounts of her work among the poor and vulnerable. It features more than a dozen new testimonies and accounts from the Missionaries of Charity’s missions in countries and conflict zones including Yemen, Nicaragua, Gaza and Ukraine. Renowned photographer Raghu Rai also shares his testimony.

The film traces key stages of Mother Teresa’s journey in India, including her work in Patna from 1948, Jharkhand from 1959 and New Delhi from 1961. It also chronicles the global expansion of the Missionaries of Charity, which now serves people in need through hundreds of homes across 138 countries.

By Catholic Connect Reporter