CHARLOTTE — Nearly a day after Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint in Rome, former Charlotte Bishop, “The Most Reverend William Curlin, Bishop Emeritus”, discussed his relationship with her.
Bishop Curlin said the two met when he was a young priest in Washington D.C.
"It was obvious in all the hours of talking with her that she was a very holy woman," Curlin said.
Mother Teresa and Curlin kept in touch over the years, writing letters and talking on the phone.
Bishop Curlin welcomed Mother Teresa to Charlotte in 1995.
She led a prayer service that drew in 19,000 people. Mother Teresa, founder of Missionaries of Charity, also attended a dedication for her new convent. Those sisters attended a special mass in her, Monday, at Our Lady of Assumption in east Charlotte.
Curlin said that Mother Teresa wanted the convent in Charlotte.
"She said suffering is everywhere, and I said to her in Charlotte, ‘There's also suffering here in many areas.’ To bring the presence of my sisters is to proclaim the love of Jesus," he said.
Curlin said Mother Teresa had a wonderful personality, and a sense of joy to her. He even visited her in Calcutta, India, where she did most of her work helping people living in poverty.
As a reminder of his dear friend in heaven, Curlin, has kept reminders of her close by.
"I have a holy card (with) her picture on it on the alter that says, 'I thank God for choosing you to a bishop, be holy, Mother Teresa'," he said.
Curlin retired as the Catholic leader in Charlotte in 2002.
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