On this same day, we joyfully celebrate the feast of Saint Jeanne-Antide Thouret, a courageous woman who carried the flame of Vincentian charity through turbulent times. Born in France in 1765, she entered the Daughters of Charity but was forced to leave her community during the French Revolution. Undeterred, she continued to care for the poor and the sick, and in 1799, founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret in Besançon. With unwavering faith and love for the most vulnerable, she established schools, hospitals, and outreach centers across Europe. Her life was marked by suffering, perseverance, and deep trust in God’s Providence. Canonized in 1934, St. Jeanne-Antide remains a shining witness to the power of mercy, humility, and faithful service in the midst of hardship.

We also celebrate the foundation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Servants of the Poorm of Gijzegem, established in 1818 by Baroness Elisabeth de Robiano in Belgium. Beginning as a spinning school for disadvantaged children in Gijzegem, the Congregation rapidly grew into a vibrant community dedicated to both education and healthcare. Inspired by Vincentian spirituality, they expanded across Belgium and eventually into Brazil and the Congo. Today, although smaller in number, the Sisters remain faithful to their founding mission—serving the poorest of the poor through schools, hospitals, eldercare, and homes for the vulnerable—rooted in simplicity, humility, and love.