Our founder Fr. Jean-Emile Anizan said: “If the world is saved, it will be through charity! Charity is the marrow of the Gospel.” When Anizan speaks about charity he means love: “The source of our apostolate is the Love of God because we are invited to make Him to be loved (...) and the sincere love, the true charity is goodness!”
This is right for all activities of a Son of Charity: our apostolate need to be inspired by charity. As parish priest of Jesus of Nazareth parish which is composed of many and very poor families, I feel that we need to be close to them, to listen to them, to love them, to enter into their homes and allow us to be invited by them... Doing so, I am amazed to discover so many beautiful things, qualities of heart like goodness, generosity, and perseverance inside trials and through poverty of life. People help one another without saying anything and they find it natural.
I am amazed to see how our people and leaders are moved by charity: they receive charity from our patron Jesus of Nazareth, and they want to communicate this love to others. We have so many simple, charitable and generous leaders. They are doing like:
This is right for all activities of a Son of Charity: our apostolate need to be inspired by charity. As parish priest of Jesus of Nazareth parish which is composed of many and very poor families, I feel that we need to be close to them, to listen to them, to love them, to enter into their homes and allow us to be invited by them... Doing so, I am amazed to discover so many beautiful things, qualities of heart like goodness, generosity, and perseverance inside trials and through poverty of life. People help one another without saying anything and they find it natural.
I am amazed to see how our people and leaders are moved by charity: they receive charity from our patron Jesus of Nazareth, and they want to communicate this love to others. We have so many simple, charitable and generous leaders. They are doing like:
· Because of their charity, our social area leaders visit the poorest families in order to invite children to have a free week of holidays near the sea during summer time, or to inform poor families about services useful for them.
· Because of charity the volunteers of one NGO “Life Project 4 Youth” accompany “out of school youth” giving them human and professional formation in order to make them ready to get a job for a better life in the future and to help their families.
·Because of charity our catechists volunteers or professionals gather children and youth, teaching them faith and love of God, preparing them to receive the sacraments like confession communion and confirmation.
· Because of charity, a team of Family Ministry invites couples to attend seminars on “Marriage Encounter” and regular meetings of Praise and Worship leaded by their ministry.
· Because of charity our Parish Youth Ministry develop activities of discovering and solidarity , giving joy and hope to the youth, developing their talents and expressing their joy to serve people in their parish.
· Because of charity, simple persons of our area serve as volunteer in our Health Centre in order to offer a good quality of services for sick and handicap people of our area.
· Because of charity a team organize every week-end, Bible sharing with different Basic Ecclesial Communities...
For us, Sons of Charity, a parish is not an administration: it is the expression of a spirit of charity. We want to develop our leaders and ministry responsible, their love for Christ in order for them to be apostle of others families in the name of Christ. People who come to the church have to be welcomed with charity. Those who do not come to the church have to feel that they are taken in consideration. Those who enter the community need to feel the spirit of simplicity and love like in a family.
Charity and mercy guided all the acts of our Lord during his public Life: miracle for sick persons, compassion for excluded, forgiveness for sinners. By charity he gave his life for our salvation. So let also true charity guide our acts of generosity, to make meaningful his Good News today and especially for the poorest feel at home in our communities.
Fr. Daniel Godefroy, FC
· Because of charity the volunteers of one NGO “Life Project 4 Youth” accompany “out of school youth” giving them human and professional formation in order to make them ready to get a job for a better life in the future and to help their families.
·Because of charity our catechists volunteers or professionals gather children and youth, teaching them faith and love of God, preparing them to receive the sacraments like confession communion and confirmation.
· Because of charity, a team of Family Ministry invites couples to attend seminars on “Marriage Encounter” and regular meetings of Praise and Worship leaded by their ministry.
· Because of charity our Parish Youth Ministry develop activities of discovering and solidarity , giving joy and hope to the youth, developing their talents and expressing their joy to serve people in their parish.
· Because of charity, simple persons of our area serve as volunteer in our Health Centre in order to offer a good quality of services for sick and handicap people of our area.
· Because of charity a team organize every week-end, Bible sharing with different Basic Ecclesial Communities...
For us, Sons of Charity, a parish is not an administration: it is the expression of a spirit of charity. We want to develop our leaders and ministry responsible, their love for Christ in order for them to be apostle of others families in the name of Christ. People who come to the church have to be welcomed with charity. Those who do not come to the church have to feel that they are taken in consideration. Those who enter the community need to feel the spirit of simplicity and love like in a family.
Charity and mercy guided all the acts of our Lord during his public Life: miracle for sick persons, compassion for excluded, forgiveness for sinners. By charity he gave his life for our salvation. So let also true charity guide our acts of generosity, to make meaningful his Good News today and especially for the poorest feel at home in our communities.
Fr. Daniel Godefroy, FC