“I HEAR YOUR FOOTSTEPS WALKING BESIDE ME,

I FEEL YOU NEAR ME AND I FIND IN YOU THE STRENGTH TO GO ON.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND, FOR WITHOUT YOU I SHALL BE LOST,

TO ENABLE ME, LORD JESUS, TO GO ABOUT DOING GOOD”. (A.F.L)

So goes the refrain of a Samaritan hymn, and these words best express what I am experiencing as I seek to describe my vocational history.

Carefully listening, clear-sightedly looking, sincerely smiling, hands welcoming others, my whole being willing to give itself to others, with the Love which Jesus, the Good Samaritan, gives me every day. I welcome it to be able to give it to others as a fruitful offering. And as life passes, I become more keenly aware and savour every minute, as one who spoke he who is enjoying the best moments in his existence.

I am convinced that God continues to call, and that there are young people, like you, who continue to be generous and recognise our life and Hospitaller Mission as something worthwhile.

The offering I make to you to follow Jesus and to live the Gospel in a radical manner can only be yours if you accept it and wish to include in your life project the One who loves you above all things, and gives meaning to life.

Jesus, recreate HOSPITALITY in me. Let me give way to missionary joy: may everyone know Jesus, and may you, young man, come to know him and follow him.

With St Benedict Menni, a living prophet, I wish to call out: “How happy are we for being favoured With the beautiful vocation of charity!”   (Letter 7)