January 25, 2016
Dear friends,
Today, January 25, the Church celebrates our patronal feast day, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. On this special day for our community, please join us in prayer:
All-powerful God,
You taught the whole world through the preaching of the apostle Paul.
As we celebrate his conversion, grant that,
through his example,
we may be witnesses to your truth in the world.
We ask this through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Around today’s feast, many of the parishes and campus ministry centers we serve hold the Annual Paulist Appeal. Our principal fundraiser of the year, the Appeal raises vital funds for our vocations outreach, preparation of seminarians, care of Paulists on senior ministry status, young adult ministries and much more. If you have not already done so, please consider making a contribution.
Thank you for your prayers and support! Your participation is essential for our ministries to thrive year after year!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Eric Andrews, CSP
President, The Paulist Fathers
(The photo above shows Lumen Martin Winter’s 1958 “Conversion of St. Paul,” the bas-relief on the front of our mother church, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City. It depicts St. Paul’s spiritual awakening, at right, during his journey from Jerusalem to Damascus. At left, God floats above Jesus and Mary, who travel together in a four-wheeled chariot pulled by an ox and lion, representing the evangelists St. Luke and St. Mark. St. Matthew, taking the form of a winged angel, and St. John, represented by a flying eagle, accompany them, as well as the original four doctors of the western church: St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine and St. Gregory.)