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.                                                                                             

FEBRUARY 2026

“Hearts in Action: Rooted in Christ, Radiant in Service”

SPC MARK: GENEROUS AND WARM-HEARTED SERVICE

INTRODUCTION: 

February is a time when many among us renew— first profession or final profession— the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. These promises are not abstract rules but the loving response of a heart formed by Christ—rooted in Him so that our lives may shine as generous, warm hearted service to the poor, the sick, the young and all whom Providence places in our path.

As Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, our History and Book of Life witness how fidelity to these vows has borne fruit in education, healthcare and pastoral care; each vow deepens our interior freedom and enables apostolic creativity so that Christ’s mercy reaches far.

GRACE:

Lord God, I beg for the grace of a heart rooted in Christ, generous in service, and faithful to the promises I make for the good of your people.

READINGS:

  • John 15:4–5 “Remain in me…”
  • Acts 2:42–47 “The community devoted themselves to prayer and sharing…”

CORRELATED READING:

Book of Life, page 10

“We are the Sisters of those first peasant girls of Beauce who gathered together to form a fraternal community.  They had neither dowry nor income but earned their living so as to be able to perform their apostolic work as gratuitously as possible…”

Capitular Acts 2025, p.17

Cultivate solidarity and mutual support learning both to give and to receive. Nurture fraternal communion through tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

POINTS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:

  • Prayer life: Is my prayer a true root that feeds my ministry? Reflect on how personal and communal prayer sustain your freedom and charity; identify one habit to strengthen (e.g., daily Lectio Divina, time before the Blessed Sacrament).
  • Community life: Do I build warm hearted relationships that make our house a school of charity? Consider how your simple actions either nourish or weaken communal trust.
  • Vows

Chastity: How does celibate love free me to love Christ and neighbor without reserve?

Poverty: In what ways do my possessions or comforts limit my availability to others? “What small acts of letting go deepen my connection and shared responsibility with others?”

Obedience: Do I listen first—to God, to the Book of Life, to my Sisters—before acting? How does obedience form my interior freedom and discernment?

Apostolic life: Is our service radiant—creative, accountable and rooted in Gospel love? Reflect on how apostolic initiatives manifest both charity and competence.

POINTS FOR SHARING:  

Personal: 

Name one concrete moment this month when your vow (chastity, poverty or obedience) helped you serve more freely. What did you learn about yourself and God in that moment?

Communal: 

This month, where did our shared witness (prayer, life together, apostolate) draw or console someone? Next month, how can we extend that witness in order to serve others with greater generosity?