Karl_Grobl-101

Friday April 28th 2006 in Kolkata (Calcutta) India Shanti Dan, "Place of Peace", respite center of Missionaries of Charities (MoC) helps thousands of patients every year, most of whom are coming for care in their final hours of life. They are destitute and sick, some found lying on train platforms by MoC volunteers or brought in by Police. Most have no families. "This [Center] was Mother's first love because first she started her work here. She wanted to look after the dying. Mother's Blessing is here-really, it is overflowing. We have no problem. Mother said when she was dying, 'I will help you more when I am with Jesus,'" said Sister Glenda, Superior of Shanti Dan. Some families locate their loved ones at the center and take them home. "The family, thank God Ö they cry, they welcome each other, they are grateful to God," said Sister Glenda, Superior of Shanti Dan. Pabdhi, 13 years, child who died Pabdhi grew up in Shishu Bhawan Orphanage. She was very difficult to feed. She developed a fever, could not breathe, was rushed to the hospital, but they discharged her soon after, and she was brought back to the House, where she died shortly after. She is thought to have died from pneumonia. "When I saw Pabdhi, I knew she was in trouble," said Sister Paula Marie, Superior of House of Mercy. "At 7:15 that night I said a prayer to my Mercy. One hour later, she was gone, and that was it. But, she still had light in her eyes. Then we had mass for an hour and, after mass, there was no light anymore." "After a child dies, we have mass for the child. We call all the children and they see the child. We tell them this child has gone to Jesus," said Sister Innocencia of House of Mercy. "Every Missionaries of Charity House has a mortuary, but not every House has cir conditioning, you see," said Sister Glenda, Superior of Shanti Dan respite center, where Pabdhi was brought after she died.