Saint John Eudes: “Who is He to us?”
The month of August brings the feast of St. John Eudes and every year we take this occasion to bring us closer to the Saint we have always called our “Father, Protector and Friend”. Recent events in the Congregation have given us more reasons and initiatives to know this Saint better, for we now call him too by the significant title “Founder”. How has this new affiliation affected us? And in the midst of other movements and transitions in our Congregation – going “Into the Deep”, Radical Transformation, Restructuring, Reconfiguration, Partnership – has the new title inspired and guided our movements intentionally? Personally and as community?
We pause and ask: “Who is St. John Eudes to me, to us?” What do I know of him?” Better still is to borrow Jesus’ intimate question to His disciples: “Who do you say I am?”
We are between two important events, milestones that can inspire us to know our Father and Founder more. In the recent past, June 27, 2014 the Reunification of the two Congregations, Our Lady of Charity and the Religious of the Good Shepherd. So this year, the 10th anniversary of the union. In the near future, May 31, 2025, the Centenary of the Canonization of St. John Eudes! Two milestones we are blessed to celebrate, to offer heartfelt gratitude to God for. May our thanksgiving to God include our desire and action to know this faithful Saint of God and our dear Founder more intimately so that his spiritual legacy may enrich and embolden our efforts to translate this heritage into “effectiveness of mission” for our times. For the glory of God and the salvation of each and every “person who is of more value than a world.”
By Sr Mary Lourdes Fabia, RGS
