This week we have two famous saints to celebrate -  

September 23: Padre Pio

September 27: St Vincent de Paul

Padre Pio was a remarkable man who died in 1968 after serving many years as a Capuchin Fransicsan Friar. Padre Pio was able to tell people their sins when they went to reconciliation and people were so amazed at this that they booked in to see him at the church in San Giovanni Rotondo up to five days in advance. Of course, Padre Pio did many great things in his life but he is also known as a man who had the stigmata or wounds of Christ - and yes, there are actually photos of him and the wounds on the Internet. The stigmata are a rare sign of holiness but they can also reinforce what we already believe  about Jesus and his death and resurrection

St Vincent de Paul is another very famous Saint:

Early Life and Transformation: Born to a peasant family in 1581, Vincent initially pursued the priesthood with the ambition of escaping poverty and gaining a more comfortable life. However, a profound transformation occurred after he was captured and sold into slavery by pirates. This experience, along with his later work as a chaplain in a poor parish, led him to a deep commitment to serving others.

Foundations and Charitable Works: St. Vincent de Paul was a pioneer in organized charity. He established several influential organizations that continue his work today:

• The Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians): An order of priests and brothers he founded to preach to the rural poor and train clergy.
• The Daughters of Charity: Co-founded with St. Louise de Marillac, this was the first non-cloistered religious institute of women. The members were dedicated to active charitable works, such as nursing the sick and caring for the poor.

Legacy: St. Vincent's legacy is immense and extends far beyond the organizations he founded. His work laid the groundwork for modern social work and he is a model of Christian charity. He believed in addressing not just immediate needs but also the root causes of poverty through education and social justice.

Another man, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, started the St Vincent de Paul Society in 1833, which continues to do so much good in our society today. 

Prayer: 

We pray for our year 12 students as they finish classes and prepare for their HSC examinations. May God bless them in all aspects of their life, including their service towards others. May they find faith, joy,  love, purpose and meaning in their life journey.

Saints Padre Pio, Vincent De Paul and Mary Magdalene

Prayer for us.