“I’m happy that I have the opportunity to do this to help others,” said Michael Gilgallon, an eighth grader at Assumption School in Morristown, N.J., who took part in the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth’s fifth annual St. Vincent de Paul Ministry Day on Sept. 29.
Daniel Puentes, also an eighth grader at Assumption, said he was happy to be “doing what God wanted him to do: to help others.”
“It’s good for us to be here,” said Sister of Charity Maureen Shaughnessy, general superior of the Sisters of Charity, as she welcomed about 500 students, faculty, sisters, associates and volunteers to the prayer service in Holy Family Chapel at the motherhouse in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., to kick off the day.
With this year’s theme of “Hearts on Fire,” Sister Shaughnessy said she hoped everyone’s hearts would be on fire to do what Jesus did in his life for those in need. She encouraged participants to model how saints like St. Louise de Marillac, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton embraced charity in their lives.
“Share your experience with others and set their hearts on fire,” Sister Shaughnessy said.
The theme was taken from the sentiment of a quote from St. Vincent de Paul, who said one’s vocation is to set the hearts of others on fire “to do what the Son of God did, who came to set the world on fire.”
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Students from eight elementary and high schools, St. Elizabeth University, also in Morris Township, and the nonprofit Josephine’s Place volunteered for projects. They packed supply bags for the Father English Center in Paterson, N.J., part of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., made portable bags for food for the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center in Camden and assembled school supplies for other nonprofits to benefit children in need.
Other groups wrote greeting cards to send to sisters and Seton Associates in nursing homes, made sandwiches and breakfast bags, and assembled “Sam Bags” with toiletries, hats, and gloves for the homeless.
In the Blessed Miriam Teresa Legacy Room at the motherhouse, students created “Blessing Bookmarks” and prayer cards for people who needed comfort and encouragement. They learned about the former Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth who is on the road to sainthood. The room is a welcoming space that displays photographs and objects celebrating Blessed Miriam’s family, heritage, and legacy.
Giancarlo Glass and John Galka, students at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., planted flowers on the other side of the grounds and arranged the flowerpots at the Our Lady of Fatima grotto.
“We are sharing how beautiful God’s creation is,” said Glass, adding that he was happy to “give back to our earth, our planet, and all the other people who made this possible.”
The annual event takes months of planning with a team led by Sister of Charity Maryanne Tracey and Shannon O’Neill, co-directors of the Office of Vocation and Mission Engagement.
“It is heartwarming to see the children join with our sisters, Seton Associates, employees, partners in mission and friends as they work on their projects,” said Sister Tracey.
O’Neill said the students and other volunteers must understand where “the work of their hands is going” so they bring representatives of the nonprofits to St. Vincent Day to explain their ministries. Beyond the community service, she said, the experience allows the students to get to know other students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and different parts of the state and have fun.
Sister of Charity Helen Moores said she is always happy to lend a hand with many pre-event tasks, including folding hundreds of T-shirts.
O’Neill said the students benefit greatly from the caring presence of the sisters.
“It is wonderful to see how the children respond to the sisters. They love to sit with them and talk with them,” O’Neill said.
At the opening prayer service, Sister Shaughnessy told those gathered that everyone is called to care for others “whether it is convenient or inconvenient,” just like the Good Samaritan did. We are challenged, she said, to recognize everyone as a sister or brother.
“You will be making a difference by your presence, prayer and action,” Sister Shaughnessy said.
St. Vincent Ministry Day encourages students to serve others #Catholic –
“I’m happy that I have the opportunity to do this to help others,” said Michael Gilgallon, an eighth grader at Assumption School in Morristown, N.J., who took part in the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth’s fifth annual St. Vincent de Paul Ministry Day on Sept. 29.
Daniel Puentes, also an eighth grader at Assumption, said he was happy to be “doing what God wanted him to do: to help others.”
“It’s good for us to be here,” said Sister of Charity Maureen Shaughnessy, general superior of the Sisters of Charity, as she welcomed about 500 students, faculty, sisters, associates and volunteers to the prayer service in Holy Family Chapel at the motherhouse in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., to kick off the day.
With this year’s theme of “Hearts on Fire,” Sister Shaughnessy said she hoped everyone’s hearts would be on fire to do what Jesus did in his life for those in need. She encouraged participants to model how saints like St. Louise de Marillac, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton embraced charity in their lives.
“Share your experience with others and set their hearts on fire,” Sister Shaughnessy said.
The theme was taken from the sentiment of a quote from St. Vincent de Paul, who said one’s vocation is to set the hearts of others on fire “to do what the Son of God did, who came to set the world on fire.”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Students from eight elementary and high schools, St. Elizabeth University, also in Morris Township, and the nonprofit Josephine’s Place volunteered for projects. They packed supply bags for the Father English Center in Paterson, N.J., part of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., made portable bags for food for the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center in Camden and assembled school supplies for other nonprofits to benefit children in need.
Other groups wrote greeting cards to send to sisters and Seton Associates in nursing homes, made sandwiches and breakfast bags, and assembled “Sam Bags” with toiletries, hats, and gloves for the homeless.
In the Blessed Miriam Teresa Legacy Room at the motherhouse, students created “Blessing Bookmarks” and prayer cards for people who needed comfort and encouragement. They learned about the former Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth who is on the road to sainthood. The room is a welcoming space that displays photographs and objects celebrating Blessed Miriam’s family, heritage, and legacy.
Giancarlo Glass and John Galka, students at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., planted flowers on the other side of the grounds and arranged the flowerpots at the Our Lady of Fatima grotto.
“We are sharing how beautiful God’s creation is,” said Glass, adding that he was happy to “give back to our earth, our planet, and all the other people who made this possible.”
The annual event takes months of planning with a team led by Sister of Charity Maryanne Tracey and Shannon O’Neill, co-directors of the Office of Vocation and Mission Engagement.
“It is heartwarming to see the children join with our sisters, Seton Associates, employees, partners in mission and friends as they work on their projects,” said Sister Tracey.
O’Neill said the students and other volunteers must understand where “the work of their hands is going” so they bring representatives of the nonprofits to St. Vincent Day to explain their ministries. Beyond the community service, she said, the experience allows the students to get to know other students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and different parts of the state and have fun.
Sister of Charity Helen Moores said she is always happy to lend a hand with many pre-event tasks, including folding hundreds of T-shirts.
O’Neill said the students benefit greatly from the caring presence of the sisters.
“It is wonderful to see how the children respond to the sisters. They love to sit with them and talk with them,” O’Neill said.
At the opening prayer service, Sister Shaughnessy told those gathered that everyone is called to care for others “whether it is convenient or inconvenient,” just like the Good Samaritan did. We are challenged, she said, to recognize everyone as a sister or brother.
“You will be making a difference by your presence, prayer and action,” Sister Shaughnessy said.