Some Preliminaries:
This month, we continue our series of reflections on the Final Document of the II International Convocation, held in Rome in November 2024. This time, our focus is on the third section: “Eyes Open Wide to the Present in a Genuine Conversation with God.”
We invite you to read this section beforehand so that your group discussions and shared prayer may be even more meaningful. As in previous months, each confraternity is encouraged to appoint a secretary to take notes during the reflection and post them in the “Comments” section of the reflection published on famvin.org (in both English and Spanish). In this way, we continue to build together a space of shared learning and communion in the spirit of the Vincentian Family.
Click on the following image to download the full document in English:
Text for Reflection:
3.6. Effective Communication to enhance our relational fabric and collaborations
- Storytelling for Service and Advocacy: the new technologies are challenging our communication styles and capacity. Storytelling is as ancient as the human experience. We cannot forget that the best way to communicate the organization’s mission, impact, and the importance of systemic change is by learning how to share our stories. This helps engage new members, benefactors, and even the people we want to serve. When the storytelling is done directly by the people impacted by poverty, we can be sure there is no more effective way of communicating their needs and expectations. Their stories are the most compelling case we can ever make. In our Charism, we do not want to be the voice of the voiceless; rather, we want to give them back the voice stolen from them when they were silenced and made invisible.
- Humanization of Technology and Social Media: We need to be countercultural and critical when using technology and social media. We are invited to constantly create ways of communicating with transparency and honesty. We need to be accountable for what we say, do, and plan. Communicating means always having channels open to listen and engage in transformative/provocative dialogues. In family solidarity, we need to help the more deprived sectors of our family build an effective communication system and structure.
REFLECTION
This month we continue to reflect on the Final Document of the 2024 gathering of the Vincentian Family in Rome. More specifically, we focus on the section entitled: Eyes open wide to the present in a genuine conversation with God … 3.6 Effective communication to enhance our relational fabric and collaboration. The actualization of this element will ensure the vitality and long-term (sustainability) impact of the Vincentian Family. Pause for a moment and think about those words. The manner in which we make this element a lived reality guarantees the on-going impact of the Vincentian Family in the world. Those are powerful words … words that present us with a great challenge. Let us reflect on that challenge!
As members of the many different Confraternities in Latin America, you possess an incredible treasure: a wealth of experience and sharing that has continued for many years. Yet, as I have shared with you on numerous occasions, the majority of the members of our worldwide family have little to no knowledge about your existence, about your meetings, about your ministry. Nevertheless, I believe that what is happening in Latin America can serve as a model for the rest of the world. Imagine if Vincentian social workers, psychologists, musicians, lawyers, poets, translators, etc. throughout the world began to establish relationships so as to advocate on behalf of those brothers and sisters living on the peripheries of society. Imagine if the members of those groups, then spoke as one in defense of the human rights and the dignity of countless men and women who are so often ignored and case aside. Imagine if on a certain occasion those newly formed worldwide Confraternities met in person. Imagine if …..
As members of these many different Confraternities in Latin America, you, men and women, the young people, our Latino Vincentians … all of you are now responsible for making this our way of living, acting and sharing. You are responsible for making this a reality in the 167 countries where the Vincentian Family is currently ministering. This means that you must search for the means to speak with fellow Vincentians in other countries. You must use the means of communication to meet with people around the world so that your experience can be duplicated in other places. You are responsible for proclaiming “the good news” that your Confraternity makes a difference in the lives of the poor, the marginalized and those living on the margins of society. This is a very serious obligation/responsibility that demands your reflection and action. This must become a top priority for the year 2026. Therefore, in the coming months, I urge you to develop a plan of action that will make all of this happen.
As I write these words and reflect on this section of the Final Document of the 2024 gathering, I also recognize that effective communication is one of the weaknesses of almost every branch of our worldwide family. You have experienced the marvelous workings of God in your midst, miracles that should be shouted from the rooftops, but you remain silent. You have seen with your very eyes the impact of the Good News in the lives of those who are poor and forgotten … and again you remain silent. You have also seen the power of your coming together in your daily life. You have stories that could fill volumes and yet in most instances you have not written a single word. You are the people who can change this situation, and more importantly, you have a responsibility to do so,
In light of all that I have written, I would like to close with one final observation. Pope Leo XIV has stated that during the time of his weekly audience on Wednesday’s 2026, he will reflect on the documents of the Second Vatican Council. One of those documents, rather brief, was a Decree on the Media of Social Communications promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 4th, 1963. I encourage all of you to take some time to read and reflect on that brief document.
- (English) https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19631204_inter-mirifica_en.html
- (Spanish) https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19631204_inter-mirifica_sp.html
I close with one question:
What will the communication strategy of your Confraternity look like (please be specific)
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