A Journey Under the Gaze of God

At the end of their workday, caring for 300 sick and disabled children and adults, a small group of Priests gathered with Blessed Louis Guanella in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and signed a convenant of love with God, who called them to be living signs of his mercy toward the poor. Fr. Guanella chose the night of March 24, 1908, the Liturgical celebration of the Annuniciation of the Lord, to commit himself and his ten companions to God, giving birth to the embryo of God's grace implanted years earlier in the fertile soil of his spirit. Over 300 years time Fr. Guanella, with faithful and patient commitment, cultivated the gift of the Holy Spirit so that God's miracle of love could be manifested according to his plan.

Pope Pius X supported and blessed them. The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence prayed to God to strengthen their shared religious family to be able to share the Founder's precious legacy of love and service. Spiritually present, were also hundreds of people who were sheltered in the big heart and homes of Fr. Guanella, giving thanks to God for having chosen this small group of courageous men to announce the Gospel of charity to the world. In the history of the Congregation are recorded the names and deeds of Priests and Brothers who joined our founder in this miraculous adventure that we commemorate, celebrate, announce and want to experience again within the Church.

2008 raises in us a commitment to return to the origin of the gift of the Holy Spirit in the heart of Fr. Guanella. We seek to rediscover and engender renewed conviction and enthusiasm in the will of God: being Good Samaritans caring for the spiritually and physicaly wounded and abandoned among us.

Hundreds of Servants of Charity adventured away from their homes to share life with people who the founder considered with preferential love: mentally and physically impaired, orphans, sick and aged, migrants and persons whose faith was threatened by the lack of shepherds.

To this ancient poverty, still visible today among us, should be added the subtle and deceptive lack of humanity in our exisiting economic and social structures, which seem to uphold justice and spark progress while causing a new and more dangerous poverty, difficult to overcome. Fr. Guanela said to his disciples, don't lock yourselves in the churches. Go out on the streets to care for the poor, following the example of Jesus who looked for and welcomed those in need.

Facing this dangerous poverty throughout the world, we are aware that the Lord is asking us to review our positions, structures, philosophy, nearness to the poor, and our testimony of life according to Jesus' life and words. We want all who are involved in our ministry and spirituality to partake in the clebration and discernment.

A century ago Blessed Louis Guanella and a few generous men cared for hundreds of the poor. Today 500 Servants of Charity and hundreds of members of the Guanellian Lay Movement serve over a million brothers and sisters while offering comfort, consolation, and support.

There is room for so many others: those needing help and those who want to help. Some give their life to Blessed Guanella's ministry, others their time and prayer, and many offer material support for the glory of God and for the sake of the suffering.

We need you to join our mission, making the love of God more and more visible in our world.