Reading the Signs: Dark or Light?
In this reflection, written for a celebration of the feast of the Epiphany Fr. Tom McKenna offers thoughts on how do I understand this particular story -- how am I reading the signs -- that is so outside my usual way of looking at the world? You could look on this...
The stress of poverty and our role as advocates
In "Behavioral Science and the Stress of Poverty: Dan Torrington, SVDP Western Region Voice of the Poor Leader writes "Once we as Vincentians begin to really appreciate the mental and emotional stress of scarcity, as well as the physical toll poverty exacts, we know...
What It’s Like To Be Homeless and Lose Everything
A great vinFormation resource teaches what it’s like to be homeless and lose everything. Hobson's choice* is the literary way of saying one has no choice at all. The only option you have is the one that is being offered to you. We have all found ourselves in such...
2016 – Vincentian opportunities to influence
"If we consider [four events in January] not only as separate events but linked together, we see opportunities to influence, if not outright create, a better future for people in poverty and for the Society itself." In his weekly column for the Society of St. Vincent...
Mercy: The best of who we are
Mercy: The best of who we are - by Tracy Kemme What an opportunity Pope Francis has given us in the Year of Mercy! It feels like something beautiful is dawning. It is a chance to rediscover and put forth the best of who we are. A few weeks ago, I went to an Advent...
The Company of Charity Embraces the Community of Earth
In "The Company of Charity Embraces the Community of Earth" Fr. Terrence J. Moran reflects on how the Vincentian family can respond with efficacious compassion to the news of the perilous decline of our home planet and its life systems. How might the traditional five...
Take courage
In Take courage Sr. Janet Gildea, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati, shares her ongoing journey through chemotherapy. I received my fifth chemo yesterday, sleeping through most of the six hour infusion while listening to “All Things Bright and Beautiful” as...
Welcoming the Stranger
Mary Mother of God – Welcoming the Stranger – God’s Mercy – New Year’s Resolutions Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tues. Jan. 12, 2016 Dear Vincentian Brothers and sisters: Pray Always for those we serve and our Vincentian Family around the world. Remember to...
New undoubtedly and completely
Changing water into wine, Jesus is manifested as the Author and Perfecter of the new thing prophesied in Is 43, 19: “See, I am doing something new.” Jesus makes use of “six stone water jars … for Jewish ceremonial washings.” Could this be another way of saying that he...
Connect and Learn: Congregation of Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul
The Congregation of Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Ukraine (in the Byzantine rite) by Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky on June 8, 1926 as eastern branch of the Congregation of Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent, originated in Deinze, Belgium in...
