John Freund, CM
Author
How can I make a difference?
To be a difference maker don’t let your environment get you down. J. Patrick Murphy writes in one of his mini-reflections on the life of Mr. Vincent, "France was at war through all of Vincent's life except for the last few months. Beheading for religious dissidents...
Love in the Family – Advice to and from bishops
For weeks now the opposing camps have been trying to fathom what Pope Francis was about to say in anticipation of his document on family life. No doubt the discussion will continue now that it has been released. [Vatican summary of the document] [US Bishops resource...
Eradicating Poverty Requires Shift From Charity To Justice
Will donating to a food bank alleviate hunger pangs? Absolutely. But it can never eradicate hunger itself. Charity gives, but justice changes. It's time to place the latter above the former. Glen Pearson, Director of the London Food Bank and former Member of...
There must be a path here…
Have you ever wondered about the path you are on? I have often told the story about the time I really made vows some 35 years after I made that commitment the first time. But it is only relatively recently that I made the connection with Vincent’s life. J Patrick...
The Vincentian Family and extremes
In a world of extremes, the Vincentian Family embraces a wide spectrum of approaches to addressing spiritual and material poverty. [Click here to view the complete listing of the hundreds of Catholic Religious, Lay Associations, and Non-Catholic groups founded in the...
From treadmills to ladders – systemic change
Some time ago famvin posted an animated short story to illustrate systemic change. In it, treadmills were transformed into ladders. Systemic change - an animated short story The image and the text stay with me. "Systemic Change is about transforming structures (the...
Eucharistic underpinnings of Systemic Change
Our ability to go and do likewise in imitation of Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet is the “criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged.”
Lenten Shift: Exploring our Traditions
Our Traditions on the living of the charism are rich source of Vincentian "vitamins." For many of us, our rules or constitutions were our earliest food. Part of our Lenten Shift is to return to the sources. Change what you do. Change what you see, change what you...
Vincent and Gandhi – transformational leaders
Systemic change requires transformational leaders. They work with people to identify the needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and executing the change in tandem with committed members of the group.[1]" Both Gandhi and Vincent de...
Lenten Shift: Papal Perspectives
Papal perspectives on the living of the Gospel have always shaped and challenged the Vincentian story. It is part of our Lenten Shift, metaphorically "shifting gears" in Lent. Change what you do. Change what you see, change what you read. We fast so we can feed the...