Egypt – World Day of the Poor 2024

From Cairo, Sr Fida ‘opens the door’ of the St Vincent social-educational institution: ‘The prayer of the poor passes through the clouds and does not stop until it has arrived; it does not stop until the Most High has intervened’ (From Pope Francis, in his address for the year 2024). And she tells us about the experience of a conversation in the spirit she had with the students of the Sainte Anne school.

St Vincent’s social institution welcomes 42 Lebanese students from precarious social backgrounds: orphans, displaced persons or children from families living in extreme poverty. Their education is at the heart of the mission of our community, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide. We care for them with care and kindness on a psychological, social, educational and spiritual level, to offer them comprehensive accompaniment and lasting support.

These students are welcomed in our facilities from Sunday evening until Friday evening, where they receive a quality education, a structuring educational framework and a healthy living environment to ensure a dignified future. We consider them as our own brothers and sisters, sharing with them not only the hard times, but also the small incidents of everyday life. Every night, before going to bed, we pray together and for them, for their families and for their intentions and, above all, for peace.

Those who hunger and thirst for justice, peace, love, attention, a smile, a compassionate look.

Those who are far from God, the unfortunate,

Those who are rich and do not recognise themselves, those who do not praise God’s graces, but always complain.

Their responses were so rich and profound, and in the end we concluded by saying that as this rope has bound us to one another, so God brings us together to offer all poverty to the Lord our God, He who is our only Father who art in heaven and our Mother full of tenderness. Amen. THANK YOU

Sister Frida