Saint Mother
Teresa
Born of Albanian heritage in Skopje, she became one of the most beloved figures of the 20th century — a woman who devoted her entire life to serving the poorest of the poor.
A Life Born from Love
Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, to a Kosovar Albanian family. Her father, Nikollë Bojaxhiu, was from Prizren, Kosovo — making her deeply connected to the Albanian people of this region. From a young age, Agnes felt a profound calling to religious life and service.
At 18, she left home for Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto, and soon after embarked for India, where she would spend the rest of her life. She took the name Teresa — after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux — and began teaching at a school in Calcutta. But her heart was drawn ever deeper to those living and dying on the streets outside the school walls.
"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world."
— Saint Mother Teresa
A Legacy of Numbers
Countries Served
Nobel Peace Prize
Sisters Worldwide
Year of Canonization
The Missionaries of Charity
In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity — a congregation dedicated entirely to serving those she called "the poorest of the poor." What began as a small group of sisters in Calcutta grew into one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world, operating in over 133 countries.
Her work encompassed homes for the dying, schools for street children, leprosy clinics, orphanages, and feeding centers. In 1979, the world recognized her extraordinary contribution when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize — which she accepted on behalf of "the unwanted, the unloved, the uncared for."
Global Reach
Active in 133+ countries across every continent
Nobel Peace Prize
Awarded 1979 for service to humanity
Key Milestones
Born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje to a Kosovar Albanian family
Joined the Sisters of Loreto and began her journey to India
Founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her service to suffering humanity
Passed away on September 5 — a date now celebrated as a holiday in Albania
Canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis
Her Words
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
— Saint Mother Teresa
The philosophy that guided her entire life and mission
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
— Saint Mother Teresa
On unity, compassion, and our shared humanity
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
— Saint Mother Teresa
Her call to action for every person, every day
Our Namesake
Mother Teresa's father, Nikollë Bojaxhiu, was from Prizren, Kosovo — giving her an enduring bond with the Albanian people. She frequently spoke of her Albanian roots with pride and opened houses of the Missionaries of Charity in Albania during the 1990s.
On September 5, 2017 — the 20th anniversary of her death — this Cathedral was consecrated in her honor here in Prishtina. It stands as a living tribute to her life of love, a beacon for the faithful of Kosovo and a symbol of the universal message she carried to every corner of the world.
"The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy — it is being unwanted."— Saint Mother Teresa