Prayers for Haiti
Written by Sister Margaret Charles
Monday, January 18, 2010

Although the Little Sisters do not have a Home in Haiti, this disaster has especially touched our Home of Queen of Peace in Queens Village, New York. Among our staff and in our neighborhood there is a high Haitian population. Many of our staff and volunteers have family in Port-au-Prince. Some lost relatives, others have not been accounted for; all are deeply shaken.
In the home there is a quiet, prayerful solidarity as all pray for the victims and their families. One resident made a point of going through the entire home after hearing of the quake. He went to every Haitian employee and assured them of his prayers.
Another man, who has very little income, gave the Sisters a donation for the earthquake victims. Later in the day he came back with a much larger donation. He said, “After I saw what those people are going through, I realized I should have given more.”
The Chaplain at Queen of Peace personally invited every Haitian staff member to a Mass he was offering for all in Port-au-Prince.
Prayers continue in all of our Homes for those who are suffering from this devastation and for the safety of all who are involved in the rescue/recovery efforts.

National Vocations Awareness Week
Written by Sr. Constance Carolyn, lsp
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

As we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week, join us in praying to St. Jeanne Jugan for vocations:

Vocation Prayer to St. Jeanne Jugan
Lord Jesus, we praise and thank you for the life and vocation of St. Jeanne Jugan. From an early age she knew that you wanted her for yourself, and she allowed herself to be formed in your image, gentle and humble of heart. In the school of St. John Eudes she learned to make her life a continuation of yours in prayer and charity. At the appointed time you revealed yourself to her in the person of an elderly woman in need. Jeanne responded to your divine invitation and gave herself totally to you in the service of the aged poor. Helped by the Brothers of St. John of God, she adopted the vow of hospitality and the practice of begging on behalf of the poor as pillars of her religious community.

We turn to you, Good Shepherd and Lord of the Harvest: Through the intercession of St. Jeanne Jugan, give to your Church holy priests like St. John Eudes and fervent religious like St. John of God, who will give their lives for your glory and the salvation of souls. Inspire many young women to follow in the footsteps of St. Jeanne Jugan, living the Beatitudes in humility and simplicity of heart, and in the joy of hospitality, so that the elderly may know your love as they journey toward their eternal home.

We make this prayer through the intercession of Mary, your mother and ours, and of St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church. Amen.

And pass the word around about two upcoming vocation opportunities:

Click here for discernment retreat, February 12-4, 2010 (pdf)
Click here for Spring Break and Summer Service Opportunities (pdf)

I can be reached at serenity@littlesistersofthepoor.org.