I recently read a reflection written by Clarence Jordan, founder of Koinonia Farm, who was trying to find a word that best describes “blessed” and he landed on “to be God’s people.”  I love that.  To be God’s people, to be involved in the work of God in the world, to recognize our own poverty, to recognize our own and one another’s blessedness, to know that it really is God’s work.  To be about God’s work we need to be in relationship with one another.

On Saturday, September 9th, the leaders of the National Associations of MISEVI experienced our oneness and deeper understanding of being God’s people.  We gathered virtually to hear how countries are accomplishing the Vincentian mission (at this meeting we heard from Lebanon, Spain and Argentina).  We continued our work toward an Extraordinary Assembly to be held in Bogota, Colombia, April 10-13, 2024.  We honored the diversity of experience of MISEVI missionaries, some accomplishing the mission in their own communities and others traveling internationally to be part of other cultures.

MISEVI countries are engaging in a synodal process to envision the future of our organization.  It’s an exciting time to be hearing from members of 18 countries and to explore the meaning of our relationship with each other (“blessed” are we who are poor in spirit).  Reflecting on ways of “being God’s people” will hopefully support our efforts to plan for the next 20 years of being missionary disciples.

“Today the Lord calls each of you to walk with him in the city, in your city. He invites you to become his missionary disciple, so that you can become part of that great whisper that wants to keep echoing in the different corners of our lives: Rejoice, the Lord is with you!”  Pope Francis

Mary Frances Jaster

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