Vincent de Paul would suffer all his life from the obsession to put the entire Church at the service of the poor.
Formation
Communal Spirit
What is the goal of a Vincentian? To meet God in the service of those who need it most. But being a Vincentian is a community vocation.
A Vincentian Minute: Vincentian Discernment, Part 3
Fr. Rooney’s teacher, Sr. Loretto Gettemeier, D.C., told him, “Events are revelations of the Will of God and contribute to the unfolding of God’s Plan. Look at what is occurring…”
The Faces of God
The Faces of God John 8:14 I once came across a psychological test aiming to measure a person’s trust in life or fear of it, life understood in its most general sense as existence or reality. It was getting at the question, “Down at your instinctual level, do...
Uncomfortable with systemic change?
Uncomfortable with systemic change? It is no secret that many people are uncomfortable with systemic change. It seems to be so hard to get a handle on. On the other hand there are others who are comfortable with what they think is systemic change. Actually what they...
Chief and eternal Shepherd of the flock
Jesus is a Shepherd who cares and protects; we fear no evil even when we walk through dark valleys. Jesus and the one who has sent him to be Shepherd of the whole flock are one. The Shepherd’s success depends on this union. The intimacy between the Father and Jesus...
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 Value of Suffering
The Value of Suffering -- Vincentians are Merciful – See your Miracles in Prayer – Forgiveness and Trust God’s Plan Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tuesday, April 12. 2016 The Value of Suffering – Many of those we serve are suffering more than we know. Our job as...
Connect and Learn: CONFAVI – Venezuela
ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES: The Team or Council of Famvin - Venezuela was formed following the first meeting of the Vincentian Family in July 2001 and since there has been a meeting every three months, and the coordinator changes every 4 years. We have conducted a...
A Wideness in God’s Mercy, A Kindness in God’s Justice
Before moving forward it might prove useful to pursue a series of five meditations on the relationship between mercy and justice. In the first meditation, the relationship between mercy and justice as enshrined in Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction is noted (primarily...
I Wish I’d Said That: Vincentians of Wherever
I wish I’d said that. We can learn from other people and imitate their virtues. That’s why we tell stories of Vincentians of Wherever. This little excerpt from Jack Melito’s, "Saint Vincent de Paul: Windows on his Vision" tells us why we should tell contemporary...
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...
