July 19, 1813: First Vows of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland, USA

On July 19, 1813, vows were pronounced for the first time by Elizabeth Ann Seton and 17 other Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s who adapted the vow formula of the French Daughters of Charity.

If Moccasins Could Speak!

Have you ever walked a mile in another’s moccasins? … in the moccasins of their sufferings?

Everyone Deserves a Home #famvin2024

In only 6 years, from 2018 to 2023, the FAMVIN Homeless Alliance (FHA) has provided over 10,000 formerly homeless people with secure housing and access to other support services.

A Vincentian View: Francis de Sales

Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac both held Saint Francis de Sales in high esteem. 

The Church of Corinth – is the Past Prologue?

In “The Tempest,” Shakespeare wrote, “What’s past is prologue!” Antonio is rationalizing the past as setting the stage for their next act, as a prologue does in a play.

Simplicity that Is Unusual, yet Necessary

Simplicity that Is Unusual, yet Necessary

There is, in Jesus, consistency between thought and word, also between preaching and doing.  We are not Christians if we lack such simplicity. Jesus addresses this time the crowds and his disciples to reassure them.  That is because a religious leader’s bad behavior,...

LOCAL EXPERIENCE: Homeless Men

LOCAL EXPERIENCE: Homeless Men

Homelessness is a gender neutral issue, but still ever prevelant among men. The homeless population is approximately 51% men nationally, with 195 men currently taking shelter at St. Vincent De Paul-Dayton. There are many factors that effect men whether it be due to...

Four Brief Reflections

Four Brief Reflections

Service in Hope – “I am among you as one who serves.” (Lk. 22:27)   “There is no better way to insure our eternal happiness than to live and die in the service of the poor, within the arms of Providence and, and in a real renunciation of ourselves by following Jesus...

A one person collaborative effort?

A one person collaborative effort?

Mark McGreevey’s in combatting homelessness are successful because the many people he’s recruited to work with him from all walks of life in seven countries, and soon many more. He’s also successful, because he successfully roped the Daughters of Charity, a few of us priests and brothers and tons of lay Vincentians to join him.

Living Fully

Living Fully

A Tribute to the “Pioneers” – Dan Paulus and Amy Rupiper Taggart As I sit here and write this, I look out my window on this sunny day appreciating all of God’s wonders. It is a quiet day for me. I have the day off of work and my children are at school. I have the...

Fruits of the Earth

Fruits of the Earth

Lettuce, peas, green beans, kale (…so much kale), parsley, carrots, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, struggling eggplants, spiders, weeds, bees, killdeer bird eggs, and butterflies — all of these find a home in my 10×10 community garden plot. Although I watched my mother...