Caritas Christi Urget Nos The Love of Christ Impels Us L'amour de Christ Nous Presse
RECOLLECTION Guide
MONTHLY RECOLLECTION GUIDE 2026 |
Introduction
As Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, we are called to be pilgrims of hope, journeying together with hearts rooted in God’s promise and eyes set on His vision. In a world filled with uncertainty, our vocation challenges us to bring Christ’s hope into every community we serve. As Spes Non Confundit reminds us, “Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts” (Rom 5:5).
This monthly recollection guide invites us to reflect deeply on our mission, nurturing a hope that inspires and strengthens us to be active bearers of God’s light. In our faith sharing, we will engage in spiritual conversations structured in three rounds as we have already been doing. In the first round, we will listen to one another without interruption, creating a space for each person’s insights and feelings to be shared.
In the second round, we will reflect on and share on what we have heard. Finally, in the third round, we will express our personal commitments moving forward, articulating how we can embody and share God’s hope in concrete ways. May this time of reflection draw us closer to God, renew our commitment to His call, and empower us to carry His hope to those around us. Let us embrace this sacred practice, trusting that through these conversations, we will be strengthened and inspired to fulfill our mission with renewed zeal and commitment.
AUGUST 2026
“Open Doors, Open Hearts: Rooted in Welcome”
SPC MARK: HOSPITALITY
INTRODUCTION:
Hospitality is a grace of the heart—an openness that reflects God’s welcome to all. It begins with compassion, humility, and a willingness to be present to others, just as Jesus embraced the sinner and the stranger.
Saint Paul urges us to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Hospitality is not limited to external acts but is rooted in openness of heart—an embrace of the other as a gift.
Our Lady of Chartres, tender and faithful, embodies this spirit through centuries of loving presence. Under her protection, the SPC Congregation has learned to welcome Christ within and offer Him to others with simplicity and love. She has never abandoned Chartres, but continues to receive with tenderness the love and devotion of all who come. Each year, on August 15, we celebrate her feast honoring her as Queen and Mother who never ceases to intercede for her children.
GRACE:
Lord, give me a heart that is open and welcoming. Teach me to see You in every person, to create spaces of love and belonging, and to welcome others as You welcome me.
READINGS:
- Matthew 25:35 “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
- Romans 15:7 “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
CORRELATED READING:
- Book of Life, Article 52
The apostle is available to all without distinction. She adopts the language and adjusts herself to the culture and customs of different peoples or of different social environments. By preference she attends to the most needy and underprivileged…
- Book of Life, Article 54
The Sisters of St. Paul adjusts herself to her environment; she seeks to promote the greater good of each person. She is creative in her efforts to give better education and care.
- Capitular Acts 2025, page 19
Build communities where spaces of welcome and dialogue are created – intercultural and synodal – where missionaries and host Sisters grow together in respect and collaboration.
POINTS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:
- Prayer Life: Prayer opens the heart to God’s presence. Do I approach prayer with openness, listening to God’s Word as a guest I welcome into my inner home?
- Community Life.: A community with open doors becomes a witness of God’s inclusive love. In what ways can I help make our community more welcoming, especially to the vulnerable and those who seek belonging?
- Vows: Poverty invites us to share; chastity opens us to love inclusively; obedience calls us to listen deeply. How do my vows help me grow in the spirit of hospitality?
- Apostolic Life: Hospitality in mission means creating spaces of love and encounter. How can I embody Christ’s welcome in my apostolic work, so that others may feel His presence through me?
POINTS FOR SHARING:
Personal:
Share any points above that struck you. In praying with the grace of hospitality, whom do I feel invited by God to welcome more—whether in my heart, in my community, or in my apostolate?
Communal:
As a community, how can we live “open doors and open hearts” more concretely, so that all who encounter us may experience the warmth of Christ’s welcome?
Revisit your community plan of action for the implementation of the Capitular Acts 2025.