Formation

A Polarized Church both Then and Now

by John Freund, CM | April 26, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments

Growing up, I was fascinated by fading pictures meticulously glued into some decades-old family albums. There I saw pictures of my mother and father before I was born.

A Vincentian View: The Good Shepherd

by Pat Griffin, CM | April 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment

In the 23rd Psalm, the psalmist proclaims, “My shepherd is the Lord.” I imagine that when Jesus prayed these words, he found a depiction of himself.

Mother Theresa and her “call within a call”

by John Freund, CM | April 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment

In 1946, during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling, Mother Teresa received what she called, “the call within a call.” The Lord asked her to begin a new religious community that would live and work with the poorest of the poor.

Contemplation: Chosen From All Eternity – SSVP USA, a Weekly Reflection

by Tim Williams | April 23, 2024 | Formation, Reflections, Society of St. Vincent de Paul | 0 Comments

This post originally appeared on ssvpusa.org Virtue, our catechism teaches, is a “habitual and firm disposition to do good.” [CCC: 1833] The good deeds themselves are not the virtue; they are, or should be, the fruits of our virtue. From our virtue of charity comes...

Your choice! – “Bridge” or “soft incarceration”?

by Fr. Michael Carroll, CM | Oct 21, 2021 | Formation, Homelessness, Reflections

I have read about the need for shelters and rapid rehousing. But Robert Davis, writing for Invisible People, captured an insight in two metaphors – “Bridge” and “soft incarceration.”

Stumbling Along ‘The Way’ (Mark 10:35-45)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 20, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

Most of us know the image backing the word “scandalize;” i.e., somebody tripping over a stone in the road.

The Rosary As Scrapbook of Mary’s Memories

by John Freund, CM | Oct 20, 2021 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change

You all know what a scrapbook is. It is not about throwing away scraps. It is about keeping memories alive.

Let it Go

by Lynn L'Heureux | May 2, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

Let it Go – Journey of Love – Christ invites us to Serve – God's Gift to Us Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tuesday, May 3, 2016 Let it Go - Often in our teenager years we strain the relationship. We tend to hold onto the bad memories and hurts more than the love....

Vincentian Family in Ecuador: Connect and Learn

by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | May 2, 2016 | Formation, Year of Vincentian Collaboration

News from the Vincentian Family in Ecuador. Please remember to pray for our brothers and sisters. "The future of humanity is in the hands of those who can give future generations reasons for life and hope" (II Vatican Council). The new Coordinating Team of the...

Time for Prayer

by Famvin Media Resources | May 1, 2016 | Formation

I'm sure we've all had our difficulties finding time for prayer. We want to have quiet time with God, but we live lives filled with rushing around. Even when we do find the time, it’s common to feel unable to concentrate or relax. St. Vincent assures us that it...

The Madness of Mercy: Jacques Derrida on Forgiveness

by Michael Whalen, CM | May 1, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

The Madness of Mercy: Jacques Derrida on Forgiveness In this brief meditation (and, quite frankly, rather “thick” in the best sense of the term) we will focus on one key idea by one writer-philosopher - Jacques Derrida. For those unfamiliar with Derrida (1930-2004),...

Be Vincentians of Wherever

by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | May 1, 2016 | Formation, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice

Not connected to any particular group or branch anymore? Don't think you have time to join now? Be a Vincentian from where you are. You may have been reading about the initiatives of the Vincentian Family at the United Nations here on famvin.org. You can do something...

Vincentian Marian Youth Gathering

by Elizabeth Astridge | Apr 30, 2016 | Formation, News, Vincentian Marian Youth

VINCENTIAN MARIAN YOUTH GATHERING, LOS ALTOS HILLS, CALIFORNIA Vincentian Marian Youth-West hosted a National Formation Weekend on March 18-19, 2016 at Seton Provincialate in Los Altos Hills, CA. VMY leaders came from California, Arizona, Alaska and Missouri to spend...

SVdP introduces Bold Culture Transformation Initiative

by John Freund, CM | Apr 30, 2016 | Formation

One hundred eighty Vincentian leaders from across the country were introduced to the Society's new Culture Transformation initiative at the annual National Midyear Meeting in the St. Louis. This could potentially be of great interest to other branches of the...