​​At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Germantown, Philadelphia, we followed Archdiocesan guidelines to be able to celebrate St. Phoebe on her feast day of September 3rd.  We set up a small altar, which has remained in the Church. We shared a message at the end of the Sunday Masses and had an information table to help grow the knowledge and devotion to St. Phoebe, minister of the Church and benefactor to many, as St. Paul mentioned in his letter to the Romans.

There was a wonderful energy emanating from uplifting girls and women throughout the liturgy- altar servers, lectors, cantors, Eucharistic ministers and lay leaders of prayer. There was a spirit of hope in what could be possible for the future of our Church!

It was especially inspiring to see girls’ faces light up as they learned about St. Phoebe. There was a deep pride and reliability. It was light and vision.

Some parishioners also joined a prayer service at St. Raphaela Center in Haverford 10 days later on September 13. It was a harmonic continuation of our gratitude for the life, mission and intercession of St. Phoebe and the recognition of the role of women in the faith life and mission of the Church.

We are gearing up for St. Phoebe day again this year here at St. Vincent de Paul– St. Phoebe pray for us on our journey together!