A Commitment That Spans Centuries
Every year since 2017, the World Day of the Poor—initiated by Pope Francis—invites us to take concrete steps of solidarity and extend a hand to those who are most in need. It is a moment to rekindle our shared humanity and to recognize the dignity of those living on the margins of society.
This year, under the theme “You are my hope” (Ps 71:5), Pope Leo XIV calls us to rediscover Christian hope as a guiding light amid the world’s turbulence. He reminds us that charity must go beyond individual acts and become a deep commitment to address the structural roots of poverty. It is a call to resist indifference and build a more just world together.
“The poor are at the heart of all pastoral work—not only in its charitable dimension but also in what the Church celebrates and proclaims. God has taken on their poverty to enrich us through their voices, their stories, their faces.”
Read the Pope’s message in several languages: English | Spanish | French | Portuguese
A Long Tradition of Welcome and Solidarity
Long before this global day was established, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) had already placed the care of the most vulnerable at the center of their mission.
As early as 1847, just four years after the congregation’s founding, Mother Marie-Rose Durocher responded to a call from Bishop Ignace Bourget by welcoming three Irish orphans affected by typhus, despite the limited resources of the young congregation. This founding gesture speaks volumes about the spirit of compassion and social action that has animated the SNJM since their earliest days.
📜 “They are covered in rags and eaten up by vermin… They will be entrusted to Mother Marie-Agnès.” — Grandes Chroniques of the Motherhouse, September 10, 1847
A Living Legacy of Action
To this day, this spirit of solidarity remains strong. Across Québec, Canada, the United States, and beyond, the SNJM continue to work with women, children, immigrants, refugees, and those experiencing homelessness or poverty. Their commitment takes many forms:
- Literacy and education programs
• Participation in social justice demonstrations
• Involvement with NGOs such as UNANIMA International, Development and Peace, and the Transformation Resource Centre in Lesotho
• Support for a range of local community aid initiatives
At Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM), the 21st annual Missionary Exhibition recently raised funds for organizations supporting families in need, young mothers, and people experiencing homelessness—a joyful and concrete way to carry on this tradition of outreach.
As we mark the 9th World Day of the Poor, let us be inspired by these past and present actions—to offer a compassionate look, a word of hope, and a just gesture in our own lives.
