Paula del Barco, a 19-year-old pedagogy student from Seville, has spent 25 days in Calcutta caring for sick and dying patients with the Missionaries of Charity. Speaking on the radio program La Linterna de la Iglesia on Spain's COPE network, she shared how her volunteer experience in India reshaped her understanding of charitable work.
Del Barco undertook the trip alongside the Bondhu association and the Diocese of Toledo. She explained that she followed an inner desire to serve and arrived in India ready for an adventure, despite already having community service experience in Seville and Porto, Portugal.
Her work centered on Kalighat, the first home established by Mother Teresa to welcome and care for destitute people collected from city streets. At the centre, volunteers provide patients with basic medical care, personal hygiene, food, and companionship during their final days.
Daily routines and small acts of care
Each morning began at 6:00 a.m. at the Motherhouse, the headquarters of the order, where volunteers gathered for prayer and Mass before departing to the care facilities. Del Barco noted that learning to perform small details with great love became the core of her daily routine.
She recalled how one of the religious sisters inspired her during moments of physical exhaustion by reminding her that the final patient of the day needed their bed made with the same enthusiasm and love as the first. Del Barco said that tasks such as cleaning wounds, holding a patient's hand, or simply being present showed that charity lies in small, dedicated actions rather than grand gestures.
The student reflected that her mission taught her to love the poor, learn from them, and recognise her own inner poverty. She added that true volunteering begins after returning home to Spain, where individuals must put their faith and service into practice in their daily lives.
Anniversaries and the legacy of Mother Teresa
Del Barco's interview coincided with the 116th anniversary of Mother Teresa's birth and came ahead of the tenth anniversary of her canonisation by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016. Nearly 30 years after her death, her charitable mission continues to transform lives and inspire young people.
During the broadcast, contributor Rodrigo Simón noted Mother Teresa's historical ties with Pope John Paul II, who beatified her in 2003 before a crowd of 300,000 people. Mother Teresa was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work.
Encouraged by her time in Calcutta, Del Barco invited other young people to undertake similar volunteer experiences and discover the impact of personal service.
