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.

Getting in the Spirit

Getting in the Spirit

Father Tom McKenna offers the following reflection Getting “In the Spirit”     (Samuel 18; Romans 8) The story of David and Goliath is set inside a larger narrative about the fall of Saul and the rise of David. And the difference between these two is that one, Saul,...

What about our Muslim students?

What about our Muslim students?

What about our Muslim students? This is a question Sr. Annelle Fitzpatrick CSJ, raises in the context of a forthcoming article in Vincentian Heritage. In “HOSPITALITY ON A VINCENTIAN CAMPUS: WELCOMING THE STRANGER OUTSIDE OUR TENT” she explores practical approaches to...

Revelation, Reflection, Learning

Revelation, Reflection, Learning

Spend a few minutes with this meditation (slide show) on the different ways that God reveals Himself to us. Thank you to Fr. Bruce Krause, C.M. for providing this reflection. God reveals Himself to us in many ways. Long before we do anything, God moves to give us His...

Evangelize the poor with certainty

Evangelize the poor with certainty

Jesus has been sent to evangelize the poor. God anointed him with the Spirit for this mission. But to evangelize is not something “spiritual” in the sense of “unreal” or “useless” even. To evangelize is not just to announce the Gospel by word and in an abstract...

Getting in the Spirit

Hannah’s Prayer – Fr. Tom McKenna

Fr. Tom Mckenna offers this reflection on Hannah’s Prayer     (I Samuel 1:9-20) In a talk on the spirituality of the Twelve Steps, the speaker told a story of a woman who was being swept along in a powerful ocean current. She was a swimmer and so at first wasn’t...