The children of St. Dunstan’s Basilica Parish recently took part in a project that allowed them to put their faith into action. Putting faith into action shows our children what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus discusses this beautifully with a Pharisee in Matthew 22:37-39:
Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”’
In addition to their learning during class, children prepared hand-crafted Valentine’s Day cards for our young seminarian from the Diocese of Charlottetown, Sam Vail. Children wrote messages, words of prayer, and shared verses from Sacred Scripture to show Sam how grateful they are that he is giving prayerful consideration to God’s call to become a priest.
Once children completed the Valentine’s Day cards, we shipped the package to St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto in time for Valentine’s Day! Anastasia Yabs, secretary with St. Augustine’s Seminary, who was aware of the project, shared a few days later, “I’ve got your beautiful very festive parcel with hearts for Sam. I locked it in my cabinet for Tuesday, the 14th!” On Valentine’s Day, Anastasia gave Sam the package – and he was all smiles!
Sam shares the following, “Thank you so much for the box of letters. It was a joy for me to read each one! The scripture passages they copied down were inspiring. The care they put into each one was generous. I especially liked the artwork they drew for me. I am so grateful for the well wishes and blessings. I will keep you and all the St. Dunstan’s Catechism students in my prayers. God bless you!”
Let’s keep the priests of our diocese in our prayers as well as Sam and all other seminarians currently studying and discerning God’s will for their lives, and all future seminarians from Prince Edward Island! And while we are praying, let us pray for each other that we may recognize our own baptismal call to discipleship in the service of love and peace in communion with our priests.
