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Lent invites us into a season of honest reflection and courageous love. We are asked to slow down, to look inward, and to open our hearts outward. In his recent reflection, Dilexi Te (“I have loved you”), Pope Leo reminds us that authentic love is never abstract. It takes shape in compassion, in solidarity, and in a willingness to draw near to those who are struggling. That’s what you have done through your generosity.
I am honored by the trust you place in our employees and volunteers. I know you believe in caring for vulnerable families and reducing their suffering. We are your hands caring for parents choosing between rent and groceries, seniors stretching a fixed income, and families one unexpected bill away from crisis. These encounters are not statistics. They are sacred moments of human connection. When you walk alongside someone in need, you build a community of dignity, hope, and shared responsibility.
Lent calls us to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Prayer invites us to cultivate empathy. Holding our neighbors in our hearts, we consider how we might be instruments of peace and healing. Fasting teaches us awareness. It helps us recognize both our own abundance and the daily sacrifices others make just to get by. And almsgiving moves love into action. Action to provide warm meals, stable housing, life-saving medicine, and more.
My Catholic faith informs my work, but these values are universal. Reflection, generosity, and solidarity transcend religious boundaries. They speak to our shared humanity. When you donate, please know that you are investing in stronger families and a more just future.
This Lent, I invite you to reflect on how you are being called to respond to the needs of our neighbors. Perhaps it is through a renewed commitment to giving. Perhaps it is through sharing our mission with a friend. Perhaps it is simply holding our neighbors in your thoughts and intentions. Whatever form it takes, you matter and your engagement matters.
With deep gratitude
Julie Bennett
CEO & Executive Director
Julie Bennett, CEO & Executive Director, in the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry