On Sept. 27, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and Associates will celebrate the feast of St. Vincent de Paul. Across continents and cultures, all are invited to pray for a wounded world and renew their commitment to serve people in need.
In a letter to Sisters and Associates, Sisters Jacky and Amrita reflect on the example St. Vincent offers today: “He challenges us to see the face of Christ in every person,” especially those affected by poverty, hunger, exclusion, war and natural disasters. They call on the Congregation to accompany others with compassion and uphold their dignity.
The feast day prayer service brings those concerns before God. It remembers the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and prays for people affected by floods, war and displacement. It also holds in prayer those whose suffering may receive little attention, including people facing hunger, trafficking, isolation and injustice.
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During the service, participants are invited to light a candle or lamp as a sign of Christ’s presence and their call to bring light to others. A concluding prayer asks for “eyes to see Christ in every person who suffers, hearts moved by their pain, and hands ready to serve.”
For the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, St. Vincent’s feast day is an invitation to put faith into action: to recognize each person’s dignity, care for creation and respond to the needs of the world with love.