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.                                                                                             

OCTOBER 2026

“Sent in Love: Rooted in Mission, Radiant in Readiness”

SPC MARK: ZEAL FOR MISSION AND AVAILABILITY

INTRODUCTION: 

In the heart of every vocation lies a call to mission—a divine invitation to be sent, to serve, and to love. This recollection invites us to reflect on our zeal for mission and our availability to God and others. Zeal is not mere enthusiasm; it is a burning desire to live out our calling with passion and purpose. Availability is the openness of heart that says “yes” even when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or unclear.

October, the Church’s Mission Month, invites us as Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres to rekindle the fire of our vocation—a call not only to belong to Christ, but to be sent by Him. In the heart of every SPC Sister lies a missionary spirit: a readiness to serve, to love, and to go wherever Christ leads.

GRACE:

Lord Jesus, enkindle in me a renewed zeal for Your mission. Make me available to Your will, attentive to Your voice, and generous in my response. May I be ready to go wherever You send me, and love whomever You place before me.

READINGS:

  • Luke 16:10 — “Whoever is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much…”
  • Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Talents
  • 1 Peter 4:10 — “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another…”

 CORRELATED READINGS:

  • Capitular Acts 2025, p. 23

Remain faithful to our mission while responding creatively to today’s evolving political, cultural, environmental, religious, and social challenges.

  • From the History of the Congregation

The Sisters of St. Paul first heeded the call to mission ad gentes in 1727. When the bishop asked for volunteers all hands were raised but only four were designated to go – young girls eager to follow Christ to the ends of the earth for the service of the Kingdom.

  • From the Diary of Sr. Ange Marie

“We were getting nearer. From afar we greeted this land… where we would be working for the salvation of souls. Already we took possession of it in the name of God and of the community.  During my novitiate I had always dreamed of faraway missions. The good Lord has granted my desires beyond my expectation.  Dear little Sisters of novitiate, come, quickly to join us. If you only knew the good that there is to be done here. It is the mission, such as we dream of it in the novitiate.”

POINTS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:

Reflect on these questions in silence, allowing the Spirit to speak to your heart:

  • Prayer Life: Am I available to God in prayer, ready to say “yes” like the Blessed Virgin Mary even when the path is unclear?

 

  • Community Life: Do I make myself available to my Sisters in quiet acts of love that strengthen communion and shared mission?
  • Vows: Do my vows lead me to greater freedom and readiness for mission—like the Sisters in 1727 who offered themselves to be sent—living them as a generous response to God’s call and to the evolving challenges of the Church? (Capitular Acts 2025, p. 23; History of the Congregation)
  • Apostolic Life: Do I carry out my mission with joy and urgency, trusting—as Sr. Ange Marie did—that the good to be done is always greater than I imagine?

POINTS FOR SHARING:  

Personal:

Share a moment when you felt truly available to God—what it cost you, and what it revealed about your heart.

Communal:

As a community, how can you cultivate a culture of availability and zeal for mission? What practices or attitudes can help the community to grow together in this call.

Revisit your community plan of action for the implementation of the Capitular Acts 2025.