Vincentian Marian Youth Newsletter October 2014

Opening refection

PRAYING AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

To be a Christian and to see our brothers or sisters suffering without weeping with them, without being sick with them! That’s to be lacking in charity; it’s being a caricature of a Christian (CCD:XII:222).

Dear Friends:

After a period of well deserved rest which coincided with the summer months, we now present to you the first edition of our Bulletin. The team at the Secretariat has once again engaged in their work with much enthusiasm. The two Vincentian celebrations that occurred during the month of September have rooted us more firmly in our commitment on behalf of the poor, our Lords and Masters. To state this more clearly, the Vincentian Marian Youth Association, following the example of the Blessed Mother, is an association that stands with those who are marginalized and those who are suffering.

At this time we ask you to remember in your prayers the people of Africa where the Ebola epidemic is creating millions of orphans and the people of Iraq where religious minorities are dying for their faith. Yes, let us ask the Virgin Mother to intercede on behalf of the thousands of people who are being displaced by war and also ask her to guide the efforts of the scientists as they search for a vaccine to combat this outbreak of Ebola. We recall in this regard the words of Saint Vincent as he invites us to be authentic Christians: To be a Christian and to see our brothers or sisters suffering without weeping with them, without being sick with them! That’s to be lacking in charity; it’s being a caricature of a Christian (CCD:XII:222). In a letter dated September 16th, the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena who are ministering in Iraq, describe the situation of the people with the following words: The people cannot bear any more suffering … indeed, their suffering is becoming too heavy to bear.

Yesterday a young man stated that he preferred to die rather than to live without dignity. People feel as though they are being robbed of their dignity. We are being persecuted because of our religious beliefs, because of our religion. None of us could have imagined that we would be living in refugee centers as a result of our religion. It is difficult to believe that this can happen in the twenty-first century.

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