Shillong, September 08: The third day of Mother Teresa International Film Festival (MTIFF) here at U Soso Tham Auditorium Shillong was opened by Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Dr Mukul M Sangma.
The MTIFF is organized by Archdiocese of Shillong, Diocese of Jowai and Missionaries of Charity in collaboration with Department of Information & Public Relations and Department of Urban Affairs, Government of Meghalaya.
The festival follows the Canonization of Mother Teresa on 4th September 2016 at Vatican City and celebrates the sainthood of Mother Teresa highlighting the life and works of Mother Teresa through films and documentaries from all over the world. The festival also aims to motivate and inspire many into words, deeds and thoughts of mercy, love and compassion towards the less privileged.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest of the day Dr Mukul M Sangma expressed pride and happiness on behalf of the government to be associated with the festival as Shillong is the first city to host the MTIFF post the canonization of Mother Teresa.
He said that the film festival serves as an important mechanism to reach out to the people, to inspire and to motivate. He also added that as individuals in different capacities the ability to serve comes out of the ability to love, the quality that Mother Teresa has immensely demonstrated.
The Chief Minister also proposed to have the MTIFF every year in different places across the state and said that the government has different departments for the welfare of the less privileged and differently abled and the Missionaries of Charity homes can be effectively utilized by these departments to give internship to people to acclimatize them before being inducted into government service so that they can serve with better understanding and love.
Among others who spoke at the Opening Session were Fr Jacob, Missionaries of Charity (MC) who gave the Welcome Address, Sr Grace Mary, Superior, MC, Fr Joseph, Director, Don Bosco Museum, Mawlai, Mr Gautam Lewis fondly referred to as Mother’s son, a polio inflicted who was sheltered by Mother Teresa, who eventually went on to become a pilot and Fr Stephen Francis, Festival Director. The short documentary, ‘Love Till It Hurts’ by Pauline Productions opened the festival for the day.
