Members of Society of St. Vincent De Paul have been enjoined to revatalise their identity and deepen their faith in serving Christ in the poor. The charge was given by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Uche, CM, Spiritual Director, International Confederation of Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Lagos Central Council, (LCC), during the celebration of the 2023 Feast Day of St. Vincent De Paul, held recently at Ave Maria Catholic Church, Lekki Lagos. Fr. Uche reminded the people that as they renew their commitment and pledge to faithfully serve Jesus in the poor, they should continue to make efforts to rekindle the fire of God’s love and the flame of charity in all aspects of their lives as they struggle with the socio-economic challenges in the country.
He said the Vincentians have every reason to count their blessings and give thanks to God for his favours, blessings and mercy, as they come together as a family in the Archdiocese of Lagos, to celebrate a champion of charity, an apostle and friend of the poor, the patron saint of all charitable societies, St. Vincent de Paul. He prayed that the Lord continue to strengthen their faith, restore their hope and revive their love for him and humanity. Speaking on the occasion, Bro. Anthony Esogbunem, President, SSVP, Lagos Central Council urged the members to emulate the virtues of their Patron Saint, and be a source of hope and assistance to the marginalised in the society. Esogbunem reminded the members that the virtues of St. Vincent De Paul should guide their lives and rekindle their commitment to the society and masters.
According to him, St. Vincent De Paul was a shining example of selfless service, compassion, and love for the less fortunate, as his life was dedicated to helping those in need and embodying the essence of Christianity. “Our commitment to the Society and our masters should be unwavering. It is not enough to simply bear the name; we must live out its meaning. We are called to participate actively in the mission of our society, by contributing our time, talents, and treasures. It is through our dedication that we can bring the love of Christ to life in our community. “When we serve our masters diligently and with love, we experience a transformation in our own lives. Our hearts become more compassionate, our faith deepens, and we find a profound sense of fulfillment. But beyond the personal rewards, our service has a ripple effect, touching the lives of those we help, and inspiring others to join in the noble course.
In his Welcome Address, Bro. Thomas Ogun, President, Lekki Particular Council, said the feast day is a time for members to come together as a body to celebrate their Vincentian calling, to encounter Christ in the poor and needy. Asking the people to give thanks to God for His care and blessings on them and their families in the past year, he urged them to renew their resolve to devote their time, treasures and talents in the service of the marginalised.
Quoting St. Vincent De Paul, he urged the members to maintain themselves in humility and charity on which all other virtues are dependent upon, as he added that the preservation of the whole edifice depends on the foundation and the roof. Bro. Emeka Ezeagwuna, Chairman, 2023 Feast Day Planning Committee, urged the members to reflect deeply on the theme of the event, “Deepening our faith by serving Christ in the poor in humility and charity.” He said: “We all voluntarily took this vocation of service to the poor, who we refer to as “Our Masters”, and in serving them, we should always remember to do so in all humility, and not turn ourselves to their masters instead. “So, as we celebrate, may God bless us all as we serve him through the poor and needy, in humility and charity.”
