Each year, St. John’s University celebrates Founder’s Week. From September 20-27, the days point the University towards St. Vincent and our charism, and they conclude with the great Solemnity on the 27th. The week always embraces a Vincentian theme. This year, we have highlighted what has often been called “the Vincentian question:” “What must be done?” This question, of course, can be applied across a broad spectrum of needs and wants.
We remember how Madame de Gondi addressed the question to Vincent and how it led to the first sermon of the Mission—as Vincent called the homily at Folleville. As Vincent applied this question to his world, it led to the foundation of the Ladies of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, and the Daughters of Charity. It prompted proper responses to the needs of the hungry, homeless, sick, aged, abandoned, imprisoned—as well as so many others. Vincent asked himself and his companions this question “What must be done”. Then solutions were sought and seized. What a blessed query!
As we look at our world, we have lots of situations that summon some sort of reply from us. We can ask ourselves what we can do to give answer to some of these difficulties that oppress our marginalized brothers and sisters. Founder’s Week enables the St. John’s community to explore issues with competent experts and celebrate the success of compassionate people.
During the week, we will listen to the Vincentian Heritage Lecture in which a lawyer will ask the question of how we need to respond justly to the immigrants who seek shelter among us. We will invite a medical doctor to speak of the gap between health care and health needs, and to suggest what must be done. We will bring in a social justice advocate from El Paso who will tell the stories of migrants and how they contribute to our society. Aside from lectures, we will honor those who have ministered to the homeless, the prisoners, the pregnant and the poor. Our week begins with a day of service and ends with a Eucharist. One can truly sense the way in which we strive to be faithful to the charism of our Founder and seek “what must be done.”
Thank you, Fr. Pat,
An important & wise question to ponder.
A good action follow-up might be:
“And now, what must I do?”
One question always leads to others in my experience.
Blessed Founder Feast Day Week,
Joe & Mary Bellacosa