Interview with Marieke van de Ven, Vincent de Paul Center Netherlands

1. What motivates you to attend the November 2024 meeting?

Participating in the previous meeting in Rome was such a great experience for me. I experienced the power when men and women of all generations and different cultures feel united. I felt proud to belong to this worldwide inspiring and challenging movement.

And why would you recommend participating?

Because being present you might feel the spirit of togetherness to make the world a better place and that you can be part of it.

2. Why is it important to walk together as a Vincentian Family?

Because only together we can face the great questions of our time such as all kinds of violence, poverty and injustice. Only together we can find creative and effective answers of what must be done. And only together we can bring relief by concrete action.

3. If you think of the word synodality, what image comes to mind?

Synodality for me is the call to live together in such a way that each of us can become the best version of oneself. Synodality is a moral ambition. Synodality invites to openness, inspires to listening and learns to serve. In the end it is the awareness that, although we might feel small, everything we do or fail to do leaves a footprint in our world.

This post is part of a series. “The Heart of a Vincentian – Coming Soon November 2024”

Register now at famvin.org/en/famvin-2024