On the feast day of St. Francis, a beloved champion of the poor, Pope Leo XIV signed his first apostolic exhortation, “Dilexi Te” (“I Have Loved You”). The exhortation, which was started by his predecessor, Pope Francis, calls on all Christians to renew their love for the poor, and has both encouraged and challenged the faithful in the diocese.
Larry Ferguson, president of the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society, found the exhortation released Oct. 9 very impactful.
“It’s a very appropriate subject for the pope to speak about at the start of his pontificate,” Ferguson said. “Speak to what a significant part of the Gospels is all about. It always strikes me how much at Mass they talk about serving the poor. It is almost every Mass, and I’m very pleased that this is his first message to the flock.”
According to Ferguson, the pope’s use of the message from Matthew’s Gospel, “Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me,” was particularly meaningful to members of the society.
“That is a motto of sorts we encourage our members to read when they are sent out two by two on home visits (to clients),” said Ferguson. “We want them to know they are encountering Our Lord when they encounter the poor and to them, we are the face of Christ.”
While Catholic Charities is the diocesan charitable arm, the St. Vincent de Paul Society operates on the parish level.
“We help with utility bills, anything to get them out of that downward spiral situation so they can pull themselves out of poverty,” said Ferguson. While money is always appreciated, Ferguson challenges parishioners to give something even more valuable.
“Time is also very helpful and actually meeting the poor,” he said. “Don’t just give money, give yourself as well.”
For many hard-working Christians in the diocese, donating time can be more challenging than writing a check.
Dental assistant Scarlet Sandoval started a nonprofit called Healthy Teeth Journey of Hope, which raises money for dental mission trips. She uses her vacation time from her work to help the poor in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru. She prays with her patients there, cleans teeth, teaches dental hygiene and works with dentists to perform more extensive services.
“At one point, I thought maybe I would stop going there in person and just start sending money and actually take a vacation,” said Sandoval, a parishioner of St. Philip Church in Falls Church. “But then I started feeling depressed. We become close to the Lord when we do his work. I have really seen the Lord in the poor in so many ways.”
Sandoval was not surprised by the pope’s words, considering everything she heard about him from her clients in Chiclayo, in northwestern Peru, where the Holy Father previously served as bishop. She was there in 2023 when a flood destroyed many homes and heard that he traveled on horseback to survey the damage and minister to the suffering. “People thought he was a good missionary,” she said.
Father Christopher Tipton, chaplain of St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Potomac Shores, is looking forward to teaching his students about the document.
“I like how the pope paints a historical picture and shows how this is not a new but longstanding value of the church,” said Father Tipton. “The pope is trying to reinvigorate the church’s attitude toward the poor, which has always been present.”
Sister of Notre Dame de la Salette Aniliza P. Juan, better known as Sister Annie, is volunteer coordinator at Catholic Charities’ Christ House in Alexandria, which provides a variety of services such as transitional housing for men, a soup kitchen and a clothing closet. There is a constant need for volunteers, especially for their evening meal, she said.
“The simple ways of giving them food and shelter are a way of responding to the Gospel,” Sister Annie said. “It is very clear that Jesus loves the poor, in all the messages that he imparted. It is a big challenge. Here at Christ House, we allow others to be part of our mission and care for those in need physically and emotionally. We teach them that we not only care about their physical needs, but teach them God loves them and they are not forgotten.”
Kassock is a freelance writer in Fredericksburg.
