Part of our Life
Part of our Life
We are delighted to have Brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, SSVP president, share a weekly reflection every Monday evening beginning with today’s post.
A few days ago I met a friend in a supermarket. As soon as he saw me, he immediately asked me: “Renato, how are you? What about the Vincentians?” These two questions, one after another, clearly demonstrate how our own name is associated with something bigger, such as our workplace, our State or the organization in which we participate.
In particular, the name of the members is always related to the surname “Vincentians.” We are “Sebastian, the Vincentian,” “Mary, the Vincentian,” “John, the Vincentian,” “Liz, the Vincentian” … We cannot deny or reject that reality. We are Vincentians even in our name. That is to say, being Vincentian is part of our life. When we are truly living our vocation as Vincentians, everyone understands and recognizes who we are. It is as if being Vincentian were the “trademark” of each one of us.
However, when we meet someone who has not continued in the ranks of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the first question we ask is “when are you coming back to the Conference?” Why is that so? Because we want the joy of serving Christ, through the exercise of charity, not to be an exclusive privilege of the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We want more and more Catholics to join this great network of charity that will surely change the world.
Being a Vincentian is part of our life, the same as being a professional, father, mother, son, daughter, student, etc. We are a whole, a sum of many parts that, separately, give shape to the image that people have of us. When we greet each other, inevitably, we are associated with the Vincentian movement. It is an element that stands out among the rest.
Going to the weekly meeting of the Conference is part of our lives. When we miss one, for whatever reason, we are sad and we miss the harmonious coexistence among the members. It is part of our life to attend organized parties and, when we can not participate, we also experience a sense of loss that only we can understand.
Visiting the poor, wherever they reside, is also part of our lives. If we are absent, we feel we are missing something very important: the friendship and affection of the people assisted. It is like losing a valuable jewel in a dense and leafy forest. Also participating in Holy Communion is part of our life; If we do not gather around the Eucharistic table, our week is empty, our Sunday is dull and tasteless.
Yes, we are Vincentians and our lives are composed of the constant practice of charity and solidarity, support for those who suffer, the desire to create a better world, the passion to end poverty and social exclusion. Yes, we are Vincentian and, therefore, It is part of our very being to reason like that, to think like that, to look at the world in this way and to act like that. That is why we always want our relatives and friends to become Vincentians too. Now, tell me: is being a Vincentian part of your life?
Renato Lima de Oliveira
16th General President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
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1 Comment
Good day Renato,
You have said it all. Charity is love and the one who sends us to serve” our masters’ is Christ. For me, visiting the poor in their homes, is the most important in our ministry, as we come face to face with our friends,to build a relationship.