FAMVIN: The International Vincentian Family

BBC and CNN television will cover The Royal Ascot Goat Races begun 1992 is going international with appearances of it on BBC and CNN television. Price WaterHouse Coopers and Stanbic Bank will donate the proceeds to Salaama School of the Blind and Daughters of Charity.according to to a story in  AllAfrica.com. Vincent would smile on this creative way of raising money.

Sr. Teresa Daly, DC, Director of the Vincentian Service Corps - Central, introduces the Summer 2008 Newsletter. As you read this newsletter, let yourself be touched by these young people to whom a year of service really has made a lifetime of difference. Read the rest

Fr. David O’Connell, CM reflects on his ten years as President of the Catholic University of America.

Sister of Charity Regina Bechtle has written “An American Daughter,” Elizabeth Seton and the American church,   in the current (Sept. 1) issue of America, and accessible online at www.americamagazine.org - click on “Current Issue” and scroll down. She also taped an interview about Elizabeth Seton today which is online at the magazine’s website and downloadable as a podcast.

September is one of the busier months in the Vincentian Family Calendar. The Vincentian Encyclopedia has background on these events.

2 - Bl. Louis-Joseph François,  Jean-Henri Gruyer and Pierre-René Rogue, Priests and Martyrs,
7 - Frank Duff founds the Legion of Mary -1921
8 - Death of Frederic Ozanam - 1853
9 - Feast of Blessed Frederic Ozanam
9 - Birth of Sr. Rosalie Rendu, DC - 1786
10 - St. John Gabriel Perboyre, C.M.Priest and Martyr - +1840
10-14 Ladies of Charity USA Annual Assembly
11 - Founding of St. Elizabeth College, [Convent Station] NJ - 1899
14 - Elizabeth Ann Seton, first native-born saint of the United States, is canonized by Pope Paul VI. - 1975
23 - Vincent de Paul Ordained a priest - 1600
24-27 - Society of St. Vincent de Paul National Meeting
27 - Feast of Vincent de Paul
For more events see the Vincentian Calendar on Famvin

The Province of Paris confirms the death of Fr.  Claudio OJEDA Y PEREZ,  CM. on the Madrid crash of  a Spanair flight. He was returning to visit his family and undergo health tests. Fr. Elie DELPLACE, CM, Provincial leader of Paris and the region of Cameroon, provides an early summary of this  confrere’s promising ministry. (Tranlastion to follow in a “Comment” as soon as it is available.)

Impressions from witnessing the blessing of medals at the Rue du Bac in Paris can be viewed at the international site of the Daughters of Charity. See also a Guided Tour of Rue du Bac.

Milk Crate Theater is a creative approach to homelessness in Australia. Milk Crate offers its participants a way of taking complex and intense parts of their lives and exploring them in a creative way, and in a safe space.

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Investments by Catholic agencies (in Australia) including $8.9 million from the Society of St Vincent de Paul may be at risk as a result of the US subprime crisis.

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Elizabeth Ann Seton’s 234th birthday will be celebrated at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg  with a Mass followed by birthday events including visits to the Stone House, where she first lived and the White House in which she opened the first free school for girls in the United States on Feb. 22, 1810. Special honors will be paid to women and girls named Elizabeth Ann or Elizabeth.

At 108 Sister Esther Diaz is the oldest among the nearly 20,000 members of the Daughters of Charity worldwide and celebrates her birthday August 21. She takes very few medications and is hardly ever sick. She served most of her life as a teacher, even spending time in China in the 1920s.
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PARIS, August 14, 2008 (famvin.org/fr):  The French Mint has struck a medal of St Vincent de Paul designed by Edmond-Henri Becker.     Details of the medal can be found at La Boutique .  Both sides of the medal can currently be seen on the FamVin Francophone site at FamVin Francophone . (Thanks to Tim Williams, CM)

The Confraternity of Charity (1617) was the first institutional expression of the Vincentian charism and it involved lay leadership for social action. Read Vincent’s own description of the event at the link above.

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Poverty is the theme of this year’s Blog Action Day, an annual day on which bloggers are invited to bring public attention to a particular social problem. This year, Blog Action Day is October 15. To find out more and to see a video explaining what Blog Action Day is and how it intends to “change the everyday conversation to steer it towards the issue of poverty, see this article.