Peace Bridge on Niagara River to honor Mother Teresa’s birthday in lights

Buffalo, N.Y., Aug 4, 2010 / 00:52 am

In honor of the 100th birthday of Bl. Mother Teresa, on Aug. 26 the Peace Bridge spanning the Niagara River will be illuminated with blue and white, the colors of the Missionaries of Charity. The lighting of the bridge, which connects Buffalo and Fort Erie, will be a “beautiful tribute” to the missionary, a local bishop said.

Bishop of Buffalo Edward U. Kmiec and Msgr. Wayne Kirkpatrick, administrator of the Canadian Diocese of St. Catharines, jointly requested the action from the Peace Bridge Authority.

“Blessed Mother Teresa was truly a child of the light whose life was a shining example of Christ our Light reaching out to people everywhere promoting love and peace in our world,” commented Msgr. Kirkpatrick. “The lighting of this bridge which spans two dioceses and two countries, symbolizes her light reaching out across the great chasm to all people.”

Bishop Kmiec said the action is a “beautiful tribute” to Mother Teresa.

“Her missionary spirit lives on through the countless lives she touched, and I am grateful that this unique structure will pay tribute to her on this special occasion,” the bishop commented. “This is symbolic in that Blessed Mother Teresa’s light continues to shine around the world.”

Mother Teresa’s service to the poor in India won worldwide admiration. The sisters of her order, the Missionaries of Charity, serve in Canada, the U.S. and around the world in homes for the dying, in orphanages and in hospitals.

At present the Vatican is considering Mother Teresa’s cause for sainthood.

The bridge’s lighting system is controlled by sophisticated software that allows unlimited color options, timings and themes, the Diocese of Buffalo reports. It has special color schemes for American and Canadian national holidays, sports team home games, and days such as Halloween.

The lighting system operates from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. and from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights submitted a request that the Empire State Building in New York City also honor Mother Teresa’s birthday with a lighting scheme in the blue and white of the Missionaries of Charity. The denial of the request prompted protests.