do not seek to follow
in the footsteps of the wise;
seek what they sought.
                      – Tom Nelson, CM

In 1993, my husband Bill and I set out on a new journey and, together with the Vincentian priests and brothers, birthed the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers (which is now part of MISEVI).  In 1993, it was a journey of learning more and more about St. Vincent DePaul through the eyes of Vincentians who were among us and had been for many years before.  It was a journey of creating a mission that guided us throughout these years.  It was a journey of relationship with Fr. Tom Nelson, CM, who walked with us as we welcomed our first group of volunteers.  Tom helped us to always be rooted in the Vincentian mission, and he helped us to see how our mission was part of a broader Vincentian mission rooted in values and characteristics.  These guided our work so that we could seek what the Vincentians sought.

The characteristics written into the Constitutions of the Congregation of the Mission are very vibrant and alive in the areas that the lay members of MISEVI in many parts of the world have chosen as their mission and ministry.  In these next few months, various people will write about the meaning of these foundational characteristics as they relate to our lay mission work.  Today we present an introduction to them.

1. Clear and expressed preference for the apostolate among the poor, since their evangelization is the sign that the kingdom of God is present on earth (cf. Mt 11:5).
2. Attention to the realities of present-day society, especially to the factors that cause an unequal distribution of the world’s goods, so that we can better carry out our prophetic task of evangelization.
3. Some sharing in the condition of the poor, so that not only will we attend to their evangelization, but that we ourselves may be evangelized by them.
4. Genuine community spirit in all our apostolic works, so that we may be supported by one another in our common vocation.
5. Readiness to go to any part of the world, according to the example of the first missionaries of the Congregation.
6. Striving to live in a state of continuous conversion both on the part of each individual member and on the part of the whole Congregation, according to the mind of St. Paul, who counsels us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rm 12:2).¹

There are tens of thousands of lay Vincentians throughout the world who live these characteristics, mindful or not of this particular articulation. These lay missionaries are guided by the spirit of St. Vincent DePaul and St. Louise DeMarillac as they respond to the Gospel call to tend to those who are most in need, and in so doing to seek the face of Christ in each person they encounter. It is in these footsteps that we walk and these that lead us to The Way.

¹ Constitutions and Statutes of the Congregation of the Mission, General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission.  Rome 1984.  English Translation Philadelphia 1989