Years ago when he was pastor of Christ the Redeemer parish in Houston, Fr. Dominic Peluse, SCJ, married John and Catherine, long-time parishioners who had met through the church’s singles group. The couple remained in contact with Fr. Dominic and when another wedding brought them to the Milwaukee area, he encouraged the couple to visit. It was an opportunity for them to see first-hand the letters they had heard about from Mother Teresa to Fr. Michael van der Peet, SCJ (now deceased). After a chance meeting at a bus stop in Rome, the two became good friends, staying in contact until Mother Teresa’s death in 1997. Fr. Michael later served on the team that prepared the cause for her beatification, and in 2003, was present in Rome for the beatification ceremony at St. Peter’s.
Fr. Wayne Jenkins, SCJ, provincial archivist, is pictured here (red shirt) with Fr. Dominic, John and Catherine, reviewing the letters.
