FAMVIN: The International Vincentian Family

“… today we are happy to send you the letter for the celebration of Saint Vincent Feast.” The text and a suggested prayer follow below.

VATICAN CITY, JULY 1, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is dedicating his message for the World Day of Peace to a theme lurking behind many conflicts: poverty.

Daughter of Charity Consuelo Tovar, who organized the largest civil rights march in the history of Dallas, Texas, moved from Dallas today to an immigrant center run by the Daughters in Reynosa, Mexico. Read the story.

At a time when employers are cutting paid maternity leave, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has become the first charity in Australia to offer the benefit. Read the story.

The Criminal Justice Ministry of the Society of St. Vincent dePaul is among those providing mentoring for those in prison as well as case-management for inmates released from prison. Without services such as these, released inmates are likely to end up back in prison. Read more.

Loretta O’Donnell, program officer with the Ministry Foundation of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, was impressed by a recent presentation by the new director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Read the article.

Stretching a budget for feeding the hungry and dealing with concerns of neighbors motivated the beginning of a fresh idea for helping day workers:  the St. Joseph the Worker, Dayworker Center in San Jose, California USA, which is under the administrative umbrella of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Read the story.

“Only by pursuing an integral and solidary humanism, in which disarmament assumes an ethical and spiritual dimension, can humanity progress toward the true and lasting peace for which it longs.” These were the words of the Pope at a recent conference in Rome. Read about it.

The fifth in the Seeds of Change series: 20 strategies for systemic change described by members of the Vincentian Family’s Commission for Promoting Systemic Change. The Rev. Fr. Norberto L. Carcellar, C. M. writes:
Systemic Change Strategy Five: Have a holistic vision which addresses basic human needs – individual and social, spiritual and physical, [...]

Today, on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, many recall King’s campaign against poverty. Read one account of his vision here. See King’s last speech before his death here.

“What we’re asking is for [Philippine President] Arroyo to accept responsibility,” Daughter of Charity Leticia Andrea Garcia said today. A Mass for “Truth, Accountability and Reform” was celebrated at Sacred Heart College, where Sister Garcia is president. Read the story.

CAIRO, Egypt, MARCH 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See urged the U.N. food and agriculture to focus on solutions to hunger that take into account both the material and spiritual dimensions of the person, says the Vatican. Speaking on behalf of the Holy See, the monsignor considered the situations of hunger, food deficiencies and malnutrition [...]

After “explosive” testimony Tuesday night in the ongoing corruption investigation in the Philippines, Dante Madriaga found himself without effective security. Again, the Daughters of Charity stepped up to protect a witness. This time, they also are seeing to the safety of the witness’s family. Read the story.

“Together on a Journey of Hope”, a two-day immigration affinity meeting sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Foundation, brought together experts on the topic from around the United States. Read the story.

Religious leaders in California have come together to lobby Congress to increase foriegn aid to poor countries. San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer calls it “inconsistent and hypocritical” to say the gospel is for all peoples without being committed to their welfare. Read the story.