Introduction
The Missionaries of Charity was founded in Calcutta in 1950 by Saint Teresa of Calcutta, India. At the invitation of Bishop Arquimínio Da Costa, the Sisters arrived in Macau on 26 June, 1981.
Initially, the Sisters stayed at Asilo De Santa Maria and then moved to an empty Franciscan convent. When the Franciscan Fathers required the return of the convent, in response, Bishop Domingo Lam provided them with land and a temporary apartment on Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde.
With the help of the benefactors and a Hong Kong community, they were able to build a house for creche temporary shelter for mother and children which is called "The creche of Missionaries of Charity" and "home of love". The original center was located at 448 Avenida Conselheiro Borja, Ilha Verde.
Additionally, they operated a creche in Fai Chi Kei starting in 1982.
While both the home and the creche operated at full capacity during the early years, the Macau government eventually developed highly comprehensive public social services, so the Missionaries of Charity officially closed both services in 2024. Following the closures, the Sisters relocated to a new property provided by Bishop Stephen Lee. Their current community is located at Rua do Campo Edif. 151 Ngan Fai.
The Sisters actively visit elderly families who live alone and also do prison visits. Once a week, the Sisters conduct night outreach in public parks to talk with migrant workers who need spiritual and moral help. They also serve cooked food for street-dwellers and older people who live alone.
Saint Teresa of Calculta visited Macau on the following dates:
01 December, 1981
15 January, 1985
03 March, 1993
Mission
The order’s particular mission is to labor for the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor, not only in the slums but all over the world, by:
Living the love of God in prayers and actions in a life marked by the simplicity and humility of the Gospel.
Loving Jesus under the appearance of Bread.
Loving and serving Him in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor, both materially and spiritually, recognizing in them and restoring to them the image and likeness of God.
* Their mission and apostolate come from: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me".
Aim
The aim of the Missionaries of Charity is to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus Christ on the Cross for the love of souls. This objective is fulfilled through the profession of evangelical counsels and by providing wholehearted, free service to the poorest of the poor, according to the Constitutions of the Missionaries of Charity.