❣️ A call to Compassion ❣️

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Lent is often called a journey through the desert, but for many of the elderly men we serve here at Guanella Preethi Nivas, life itself has felt like a long, parched wilderness. Abandoned by families or forgotten by society, they come to us seeking more than just a roof—they come seeking the dignity of being seen.

As a Servant of Charity, following the footsteps of our founder, St. Louis Guanella, I am reminded that our mission is to reveal God’s fatherly face to those the world considers "discarded."

The Heart of Our Lenten Journey
This season, the Word of God speaks directly to the work we do together. I invite you to reflect on these truths as you prepare your own hearts:
* Seeing the Face of Christ: Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." At our home, when we wash the feet of a destitute father or hold the hand of a lonely grandfather, we aren't just performing social work; we are touching the wounds of Jesus.
* A Call to Compassion: The prophet Isaiah (58:7) challenges us during our fast: "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
* The Promise of Presence: Many of our residents feel their strength failing. We hold onto the promise in Psalm 71:9: "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone." ---
Making Your Lent Meaningful
Lent is not merely about what we give up, but about whom we take in. Our elderly residents at Guanella Preethi Nivas are the "treasures of the Church." They carry years of wisdom, but also years of sorrow. Your prayers and your charity ensure that their final years are not defined by the loneliness of the streets, but by the warmth of a family.

"It is God who does everything; we are but his instruments." — St. Louis Guanella

As you walk this path toward Calvary, may your heart be softened by the cries of the poor. Let us not pass by on the other side of the road. Instead, let us be the "Good Samaritans" who provide the oil of comfort and the wine of hope to those who have no one else.
May this Lent be a season where your charity becomes a living prayer.
In the peace of Christ and the Charism of Charity,

Fr.Kulandaisamy
Servants of Charity (Guanellians)
Guanella Preethi Nivas