The theme of this year’s World Day of the Poor was, “For your sakes, Christ became poor.” What a wonderful reminder to us all that we need to stop living money-centred lives and concentrate on what’s really important.
In his message delivered for the feast of St Anthony of Padua, patron saint of the poor, Pope Francis explained that the Christian approach to the poor is not a welfare mentality or patronising activism. It is a “sincere and generous concern that makes us approach a poor person as a brother or sister.”
“We need to follow Christ’s path of poverty, sharing our lives out of love,” he wrote, “Beginning with love for those most in need.”
Vincentians around the country celebrated World Day of the Poor on Sunday 13 November, by turning love for those most in need into action. Conferences around the country assembled and distributed hundreds of thousands of sandwiches, while St Patrick’s La Rochelle served a sit down hot meal of chicken or beef stew, mealie meal, rice, salad, cake and custard to 225 people.
Well done to all who participated on the day, and grateful thanks to those who donated food items and cash to make our work possible. May you be richly blessed for your kindness.
Please visit our photo gallery for more photos of the day.
