"God still loves the world and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor.” (Mother)

The Missionaries of Charity Brothers were founded in 1963 by Mother Teresa of Calcutta (our Sisters were founded in 1950). The 25th of March, Feast of the Annunciation, was chosen as our Foundation Day. Three young boys, as the first candidates, were present with Mother and a few other Sisters at a brief prayer ceremony to mark this beginning, in Shishu Bhavan (the children's home). It so happened – by coincidence or Divine planning – that Fr. Ian Travers-Ball of the Australian Jesuit Mission (who would later to be called Brother Andrew) was ordained as a priest on that same day.

The Brothers were originally under the guidance of the M.C. Sisters and their spiritual directors. During this time, Mother Teresa was waiting for someone suitable to take up the leadership of the Brothers. In December of 1965 Fr. Ian came for a one-month experience. Even as a Jesuit, he had a special desire to work with the poor. Seeing his attraction to the vocation of the Brothers, Mother Teresa saw him as the answer to her prayers and asked him to take over their formation and guidance. After prayer and reflection he agreed and obtained permission from his Jesuit superiors. Taking the name “Brother Andrew”, he joined the Missionaries of Charity Brothers on February 19th 1966.

The Congregation became an Institute of Diocesan Right on 26th March 1967. From his arrival in 1966 until the Third General Chapter in 1986, Brother Andrew was the General Servant. He formed and governed the Brothers during those years, helping them to find their own identity as religious brothers within the M.C. Family. Although our charism comes clearly from Mother Teresa, Brother Andrew gave us a particular appreciation of our own poverty as instruments in God's hands, and the wonderful fact that God uses weak and wounded men like ourselves for his own work. Because of his important role in our history, we consider Brother Andrew as “Co-founder” with Mother Teresa.

Between the General Chapters of 1986 and 1992, our Constitutions were extensively revised with the involvement of all the Brothers. These were approved by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life (at the Vatican) – and on 12th June 2003, the Missionaries of Charity Brothers became an Institute of Pontifical Right.

There are currently 420 Brothers in 69 communities in 21 countries (as of August 2016).

Inspiration Day
On the 10th Sept. 1946, Mother Teresa received what she termed a “call within a call”. Although already a religious Sister, she felt a deep call from God to put herself totally at the service of the poorest of the poor.

Trusting completely in Divine providence, she received permission to begin the Missionaries of Charity.

HomeVocation of BrotherhoodThe Missionaries of Charity FamilyCo-workers and volunteering