LOCAL EXPERIENCE: I used to judge — then it happened to me
My mom was an alcoholic and at age 17 I decided to escape that. It was scary. You know, before I became homeless, I used to judge, but then it happened to me. I used to think that everyone who was homeless was on drugs, with alcohol problems, just not good people. But...
St. Vincent de Paul: Apostle of the Holy Spirit
Here we are living in the 400 anniversary year of the Vincentian charism. This is a time of renewal and grace. 1617 was the year in which Vincent received the Holy Spirit and obeyed the Holy Spirit in order to make a radical change in his life. It was the same Spirit...
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.
Seton Shrine Offers Helpful Resources for Children (or anyone!)
Did you know that the Seton Shrine offers free resources for children about St. Elizabeth Ann and the era in which she lived?
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
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...
A Vincentian View: Homelessness
A Vincentian View: Homelessness Once every two years, St. John’s runs a “Poverty Conference.” This conference invites a discussion on an important situation in our society which impacts upon those who are poor and marginalized. In the past few years, issues like...
How Hard is it to Make a Telephone Call?
What holds us back from lifting the phone and speaking for those who do not know how to negotiate our system?
Communications “heroes” — some saints, some not!
Communications people: celebrate all saints day! Why All Saints? The whole idea of All Saints’ Day is something I find great comfort in because it’s a reminder that we’re not blazing new ground. We’re not the first ones to struggle. We’re not the first ones trying to...
Chaos and Darkness, No; Peace and Light, Yes
Jesus shows us the right way to love God and our neighbor. Those who love, as Jesus does, overcome chaos and darkness together with him. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, bringing order out of chaos and dispelling the darkness. He brought...
