Due to the coronavirus epidemic most Vincentians have changed their work from face-to-face services to other creative approaches, specific to their local situations. At first we may have felt immobilized (“I can’t do anything more”) but we’ve had to discover other ways to “be present” to people; other ways to serve: such as coordinating with each other via Zoom meetings, setting up contactless delivery of food and other items, etc.

In the presentation below we see the example of St. Vincent who, often surrounded by illness and misery, was present to various individuals through the exchange of letters– the only means of long-distance communication available to him at the time. Also notice how St. Vincent tried to strike a balance between responding to some urgent need, carefully analyzing the situation, and waiting for signs from Providence.