Javier F. Chento
Author
The Vincentian Family in Panama
The joy of living together in unity. Many years ago, with that very sentiment, the members of the Vincentian Family in Panama began the process of serving their sisters and brothers who were most poor. According to our historical records this process began in 1875 on...
Easter Charity Fair 2016
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me." (Mt 25:40) These are the words which inspired us and still do to organize and hold a charity fair prior to Easter. Starting in February, for the third consecutive...
Layers and barks
The coconut is a difficult fruit to split open. You will need a machete or a large knife to get to its delicious meat. In many parts of Latin America, fresh coconut water serves to quench the thirst of those on a walk. Staying in my memory is the amazing agility of...
The Christians’ sign
It has been many years ago that I was told the following little story: While the teacher was correcting the religion exams of her students, she was surprised to read Pilar’s answer to the question, “What is the sign that identifies Christians?” Except for a few...
Presentation of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian charism in 2017
Dear Leaders and Members of the Vincentian Family, As was mentioned in January at our meeting of the international Vincentian Family in Rome, 2017 marks the 400th Anniversary of the birth of the Vincentian charism. The Vincentian Family Collaboration Commission,...
Formation Plan for the Vincentian Family in Ecuador
On February 20, 2016 we initiated the Formation Plan for the Vincentian Family in Ecuador (FAVIE). We began by meeting with the Advisers of the various Branches, then met with the members in various constituted zones and/or regions. At the present time, the members...
Collaboration is… to look forward always
We have just finished our yearly celebration of Jesus Christ’s victory over death and sin. The Easter Triduum is the center of the liturgical life of the Church and the vital core where believers find the be-all and end-all of their existence. Because God the Father...
Vincentian vision on poverty
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is an Association maintained by its Faith and Catholic beliefs, but in which it is also essential, in order to preserve its identity and mission, its spirituality to be centered and geared towards people in poverty and social risk....
Collaboration is… to live in permanent resurrection
We are entering the most important liturgical time for the people of God: we celebrate the passion of Jesus Christ, the death that begets life and confirms the commitment of God the Father to His Son Jesus Christ and to all humanity through Him. In celebrating the...
Collaboration is… to dream together
Dreaming is not escaping reality. “It is to undermine obvious facts to break their hold on people, to abandon deliberately the paths of obedience, to project oneself into a reality that we daringly think is different” (Myriam Tonus, “Dangereuse l’utopie?” in La Libre...