ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
“A sinner stands before you.” These were the opening words of a keynote address by the Honourable Gopalkrishna Gandhi at an inter- faith meeting held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Owairaka, Auckland last month to honour the legacy of Nobel Laureate, Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
He called himself a sinner because he said he had no moral right to speak about Mother Teresa as he had ‘never given until it hurts as she did,’ he said. Mr Gandhi is Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson and the former Governor of West Bengal. The Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn hosted this inter-faith gathering.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown, the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Mr A K Pandey, the Chair of the Mother Teresa Committee, Wenceslaus Anthony, Members of Parliament and representatives of the world’s major faiths and leaders of the community all participated in the ceremony.
Wenceslaus Anthony, Chair of Mother Teresa Inter faith Committee in his address said that we salute the large congregation today for the courage that they have to come and be part of a strong movement that is being built in the name of Mother Teresa of Calcutta- a movement of people for the people for only one motive which Mother stood for – Love and Peace. This movement has no political leaning, hierarchy structure but people of all faiths, communities and inclinations to come together, serve and be the voice of the voiceless to spread happiness, peace and love.
Mayor Len Brown was clearly impressed with Mr Gandhi’s sentiments and said that he lived every day of his life by Gandhi’s quote, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ “With the uniting of our city, Auckland is working towards being the most tolerant, inclusive city - an exemplar to the world,” he said to a gathering that was packed to capacity for the occasion.
Representatives of the world’s major faiths Hinduism, Islamic, Sikh, Buddhism, Zoroastrian and Jewish read reflections from their holy books led by Catholic Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn. There was song and dance from their various cultures and traditions. A substantial cheque to Mother Teresa’s sisters in Auckland was handed over by the CEO of the Auckland Catholic Caring Foundation.
“A sinner stands before you.” These were the opening words of a keynote address by the Honourable Gopalkrishna Gandhi at an inter- faith meeting held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Owairaka, Auckland last month to honour the legacy of Nobel Laureate, Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
He called...
“A sinner stands before you.” These were the opening words of a keynote address by the Honourable Gopalkrishna Gandhi at an inter- faith meeting held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Owairaka, Auckland last month to honour the legacy of Nobel Laureate, Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
He called himself a sinner because he said he had no moral right to speak about Mother Teresa as he had ‘never given until it hurts as she did,’ he said. Mr Gandhi is Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson and the former Governor of West Bengal. The Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn hosted this inter-faith gathering.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown, the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Mr A K Pandey, the Chair of the Mother Teresa Committee, Wenceslaus Anthony, Members of Parliament and representatives of the world’s major faiths and leaders of the community all participated in the ceremony.
Wenceslaus Anthony, Chair of Mother Teresa Inter faith Committee in his address said that we salute the large congregation today for the courage that they have to come and be part of a strong movement that is being built in the name of Mother Teresa of Calcutta- a movement of people for the people for only one motive which Mother stood for – Love and Peace. This movement has no political leaning, hierarchy structure but people of all faiths, communities and inclinations to come together, serve and be the voice of the voiceless to spread happiness, peace and love.
Mayor Len Brown was clearly impressed with Mr Gandhi’s sentiments and said that he lived every day of his life by Gandhi’s quote, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ “With the uniting of our city, Auckland is working towards being the most tolerant, inclusive city - an exemplar to the world,” he said to a gathering that was packed to capacity for the occasion.
Representatives of the world’s major faiths Hinduism, Islamic, Sikh, Buddhism, Zoroastrian and Jewish read reflections from their holy books led by Catholic Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn. There was song and dance from their various cultures and traditions. A substantial cheque to Mother Teresa’s sisters in Auckland was handed over by the CEO of the Auckland Catholic Caring Foundation.
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