Missionaries of Charity Brothers elect new 'general servant'

Although aging members and a sense of uncertainty challenges his congregation, the brothers will continue to serve the poorest of the poor as shown by their co-founder Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, he says.

Brother Roberts was elected the new head of the MC Brothers during the congregation’s general chapter held in Kolkata Nov. 15- Dec. 7 for a six-year term.

In the following interview, he shares about his life and plans for the congregation he now heads.

ucanews.com: Why did you join the MC Brothers?

BROTHER DAVID ROBERTS: I always wanted to work with the handicapped. When I was a child, the plight of the mentally challenged shook me. I still recall the joy of being able to help a little boy with no hands work with a computer. He now has a family and work.

When I was 7, Mother Teresa visited our school in Kolkata. I remember running to my mother asking her for money to give to “Mother Teresa and her ‘leopards.’” Back then, I did not know what a leper was.

I obtained a master’s degree in social work from Loyola College, Chennai. In 1981, the year of the handicapped, I got a training scholarship to Japan for the caring of the mentally challenged. I had gone to see the Jesuit’s way of life. After returning from Japan I went to the MC home for the dying in Kolkata. I was shocked by the working conditions there. Every day I thought of leaving the place but God in His mercy and goodness kept me there, as I later joined the congregation.