By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Jerry Long dedicated the Mother Teresa stamp to Father Roger Holoubek, pastor of St. Maurice, and his congregation.

DANIA BEACH � Over a hundred parishioners gathered after Mass on Oct. 31 at St. Maurice Church to watch Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Jerry Long dedicate the Mother Teresa stamp and present its pastor with a scanned enlargement of it.

�As seen in your parish mission statement, you share the same love and passion for those who are hungry not only here but around the world, so it is fitting and a pleasure that I present this to Father Roger and the entire parish family,� said Long.

�I am speechless and deeply honored,� said Father Roger Holoubek, St. Maurice�s pastor. �Thank you for this awesome gift. We thank you, thank you, thank you and will cherish it.�

The parish mission statement says: �We are the family of St. Maurice Parish joined together sacramentally in Jesus Christ sharing our skills and abilities across the world to nourish all human hunger.�

�Remember this woman and her compassion for the poorest of the poor,� said Father Holoubek before leading those in attendance in an impromptu singing of �Let There Be Peace on Earth.�

The stamp features a portrait of Mother Teresa painted by award-winning artist Thomas Blackshear II of Colorado Springs, Co. On Sept. 5, the United States Postal Service officially issued the Mother Teresa stamp during a special ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the nation�s capital.

Among the criteria to be considered for a stamp: The person must be deceased and have contributed to the world in some form, either through the arts, history or, as in Mother Teresa�s case, as a humanitarian.

�I felt very honored. It brought both of my worlds together,� said Sheryl Dillon-Jones, who helped coordinate the event at the parish. She is a cantor at St. Maurice and also works for the postal service.

�The postal office recognizes many great people in the history of our world and I believe Mother Teresa is one of the greatest,� Dillon-Jones said.

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC

Father Roger Holoubek, pastor, speaks about Mother Teresa to parishioners at St. Maurice Church.