The leaders of various branches of the Vincentian Family have called for a year to celebrate New Evangelization. In this segment of Formation Friday VinFormation offers some of its relevant resources. Over the coming months it will prepare many more.

• eBook: St. Vincent de Paul and Evangelization
• 350th Annniversary essay on Evangelization of the poor
• Systemic Change, St. Vincent de Paul and Evangelization
• The Power of the Vincentian Message for Evangelization Today

Let us not forget the two facets of Vincentian evangelization

To Be Evangelized By the Poor

“The poor have much to teach you. You have much to learn from them.” –St. Vincent. When we share in the life and goals of poor persons, we discover the presence of the Spirit of the Lord who renews us. As we speak with them, listen to them, and accompany them as the agents of their own way to liberation, we allow ourselves to be evangelized by them– we are inspired and humbled by their faith and hope in God under the worst of circumstances.

To Evangelize the Poor
Vincentians seek, in their relationship with those in need, to bear witness to the love of Christ for each one of us. The mission to the spiritually needy and the materially needy are integrally related and cannot be separated; one without the other is worthless. Our proclamation of the good news will resound in people’s hearts especially when we give vibrant witness:

• through the language of works: performing the works of justice and mercy which are a sign that the kingdom of God is really alive among us: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, helping to find the causes of their hunger and thirst and the ways of alleviating it;
• through the language of words: announcing with deep conviction the Lord’s presence, his love, his offer of forgiveness and acceptance to all;
• through the language of relationships: being with poor persons, working with them, forming a community that shows the Lord’s love for all.