Statement of Belief

1. We recognize we fall short of living out our Vincentian/Christian call to love and serve all God’s children.
2. We recognize as Social Justice Leaders we have a responsibility to raise awareness and opportunities within our respective organizations.
3. We feel specifically called at this time to promote increased awareness and action regarding the need to achieve racial and economic equity.
4. We believe that as white persons we need to listen to and learn from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) community.
5. We will examine our white privilege and actively work towards equity with BIPOC and inclusion of BIPOC.
6. We believe a key component of our role is to establish pathways that lead to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Vincentian family.

Call to Action

1. Expand our group to include BIPOC members of our congregations and organizations to ensure the voices and perspectives of all are considered in our work.
2. Provide support to our Leaderships to develop an effective internal program directed toward education and formation of our members on racial and economic equity.
3. Support, promote, and advocate for systemic change in structures, policies, programs and groups of our Congregations through addressing diversity, equity and inclusion.
4. Reach out and listen to the BIPOC community, especially to see through the lens of their experience of systemic racism.
5. Include members of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour/Color (BIPOC) community in decision making processes.

Members: Vincentian Family Social Justice Representatives North America

Father Louie Arceneaux, CM
Vincentian Congregation of the Mission Western Province

Sister Margaret Louise Brown, DC
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Marie Copeland
Ladies of Charity USA

Sister Julie Cutter, DC
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Province of St. Louise

Sister Helen Danahy, SCH
Sisters of Charity, Halifax

Sister Carol De Angelo,
SC Sisters of Charity, NY

Father John Freund, CM
Vincentian Congregation of the Mission Eastern Province

Mary Frances Jaster
MISVEI -USA (Lay Vincentian Missionaries)

Jack Murphy
Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA

Darlene O’Leary, SM
Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish

Jim Paddon
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Canada.

Sister Joetta Venneman, PBVM
Sisters of Charity, Nazareth, Ky

Holly Walter
Ladies of Charity USA