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:

REFLECTION

This month we begin to reflect on those initiatives that will ensure that the Vincentian Family can effectively tackle global challenges while remaining true to its mission of serving the poor and marginalized. The first two initiatives are most challenging and urgent at this specific time in our history. Note, however, the context of all of these initiatives. This section is entitled: eyes for a vision for new beginning. This implies that our eyes are wide open, that we are seeing things as they are, that we take the time to analyze our reality in light of the gospel and the Church’s social teaching and that we share our analysis of reality with others so as to engage in a process of mutual enrichment and understanding.

Recall here the words of the psalmist: they have eyes but cannot see; they have ears but cannot hear (Psalm 115:5). The psalmist refers to individuals who had bowed down before the idols of that era (idols of gold and silver) and were blind to the living God in their midst. They were equally deaf to the crises of their brothers and sisters who were oppressed and marginalized and consigned to the peripheries of society. It is also easy for us to become caught up in the world of consumerism, to seek power and wealth, to crave prestige and the admiration of others … and in doing so we become blind and deaf to the desperate situations which imprison and shackle so many of our brothers and sisters. Therefore, we need to become aware of our own blindness and deafness.

Now, the first initiative deals with youth involvement. Every branch of the Vincentian Family talks about the desire to have the participation of more young people. Nevertheless, let me pose some questions: do these same groups actually involve young men and women in their decision making processes, do they provide these young people with opportunities to exercise positions of leadership, do they take the time to listen to the ideas, hopes, dreams of these young people, is there some process to mentor young men and women. Yes, we all want young men and women to become involved and participate in our groups, but we must also understand the implications of this desire.

Young people may challenge our way of doing things and can make us feel uncomfortable.  Yet this is the price we must be willing to pay if we are serious about the invitation that we extend to our brothers and sisters: come and see! What will these individuals see and hear when they enter the places where we gather together? Will they feel welcomed and respected? Will they feel that they have found a home? You and I are the ones who can create an environment so that young people are not only excited to come and see, but equally excited to come and remain with us.

The second initiative refers to our global outreach through our presence in the United Nations. The document rightly points out the success of our Family when they were able to include homelessness as one of the sustainable development goals. We have a strong presence at the UN and our united voice is being heard. We have, however, entered into a very uncertain time with regard to the future of this organization.

The president of the United States, Donal Trump, has reduced its humanitarian aid contribution to the UN to around 2 billion dollars, down from 10 billion. Furthermore, the president has proposed eliminating all funding for UN peacekeeping in 2026, has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement for a second time, cut funding to the UN Population Fund, and stopped funding for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. At the same time, the president has established a new institution, the Board of Peace, and has appointed himself as president of this group. This appears to be setting up a parallel group and there is real danger here: small, poor countries will be excluded and will become voiceless … and we as a Family are ministering in many of these small, poor countries.

What are the implications of all this especially when we say that political advocacy is an effective way to advance our ministry of integrally serving the poor. Advocacy tackles the systemic, legal, and social structures that perpetuate poverty and allows faith communities to speak on behalf of those who are voiceless or powerless, directly influencing policymakers to improve the lives of vulnerable populations. Advocacy involves working with policymakers through collaboration, education, and persuasion to build long-term, positive change.

Some speak of the collapse of the United Nations and here let me highlight three consequences: [1] global instability:  surge in unresolved conflicts, with power shifting toward regional blocs; [2] humanitarian catastrophe: millions would lose food, vaccine, and aid services provided by agencies like the World Food Program and UN Refugee Agency; [3] end of global standards: a loss of international treaties regarding safety standards for ships, aircraft, and, most critically, human rights, which would no longer be monitored globally. A moment of crisis once again.

Some questions for reflection:

[1] In what ways are we blind and deaf … what are the prejudices that do not allow us to have our eyes and ears wide open?

[2] Do we have in place some mentoring process for the young people who wish to participate in our group?

[3] Do we allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable in order to ensure the active participation of young people in our group (do we take the time to listen to them).

[4] How can we engage in political advocacy on the local level?