Vincentian Family Collaborative Action Program (VFCAP), Part 2

On March 25th and 26th, the second part of the Vincentian Family Collaborative Action Program (VFCAP) was held in the House of St. Vincent de Paul in Vallvidrera (Spain), addressed to the members of the different branches of the Vincentian Family, including AIC, VMY, Association of the Miraculous Medal, the Daughters of Charity and the Congregation of the Mission. In it, participants of different ages had the opportunity to rethink our way of acting and deepen our charism, in this year when we celebrate the 400th anniversary of our charism. Thus, we worked on some of the different keys that should distinguish a Vincentian: being a collaborator, catalyst and server.

During the weekend we were able, through the modules addressed, to rediscover our position in the face of a conflict, to see if we face it in the right way or if there are positions that we should change, to revive our work at the service of the poorest to recover the meaning of our life as Vincentians, and re-imagine a plan of action that allows us to advance in our projects and reorient them in order to achieve the best results.

All this has led those who have been part of the course to broaden horizons so that our effort is real and effective in an attempt to evangelize the poor, following the example of Saint Vincent de Paul, and to encourage our communities to join in to the search for real and achievable goals that mean a real change in our society. In addition, the workshop has been developed in an eminently practical way, since together with the treatment of each module, a role-play was done to allow us to better situate ourselves in the scenario that was presented and in which each one had to intervene, either groupally or individually.

In addition to this, other activities — such as the visit to Tibidabo on Saturday afternoon or the evening soiree — served to create a relaxed atmosphere in which the members of the different Vincentian branches were able to know better one another and share the personal experience each one live, and also dance and enjoy this time living as Family. Likewise, prayers and Eucharist lived in community were essential, which accentuated our sense of belonging and brought us closer as members of the Church.

In short, an unforgettable weekend with a substantial content that has given us a great amount of values ​​and tools to work as followers of Christ and announcers of his Kingdom, not only at the ecclesial level, but before any situation of our daily life. An experience from which we bring strengthened bonds with other people who share our charism and new strength to proclaim the Gospel as Vincentians at the service of charity.

Author: Candela Copparoni (JMV)