Reflections

How Much Will Upcoming Evictions Cost You?

by Fr. Michael Carroll, CM | January 14, 2021 | Formation, Homelessness, Reflections | 0 Comments

According to the NLIHC and the Innovation for Justice Program, an incident of mass eviction would incur astronomical costs for the general population. In total, they estimate those costs to total somewhere between $62 billion and $129 billion

“Reaching Back”(Mark 1:11)

by Tom McKenna, CM | January 13, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments

There’s a phrase which often enough appears in stories having to do with someone coming up against his or her limits.

Making Sense Of What Just Happened

by John Freund, CM | January 13, 2021 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 1 Comment

“Are you the only one in the world who has not heard what is going on in (Washington?)” (Luke 24:18) People from around the world are trying to make sense of recent events. I offer some resources for reflection.

Hide in Jesus Christ and Let Him Fill Us

by Ross Dizon | January 12, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments

Jesus saves us, shelters us and gives us our fill. Those who go to him, and ask to hide in him and to have his fullness, are never disappointed. We are back to the Ordinary Time (OT). Each week only gets the “ordinal” number. Hence, the word “ordinary.” And so,...

Brim with Jesus’ Justice and Love

by Ross Dizon | Nov 23, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

Jesus is King David’s just shoot. He comes to make the earth brim with justice. How he wishes that we get the name...

Vincentian Prayer Images: One of the Great Saints of History VIII

by John Freund, CM | Nov 23, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

St. Vincent wrote: “what a beautiful sight are the poor if we consider them in God…”

“What are you hearing?”

by John Freund, CM | Nov 19, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

The most effective reporters highlight the impact on the life and concerns of a viewer. Pope Francis seems to instinctively do the same.

#famvin400 Breaking the Code of Silence

by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | Sep 1, 2016 | Formation, Reflections, Social Media

Reconciliation in the Anniversary Year When people are hurt, they shut down, they have entered another kind of deep poverty. They pray, and sometimes there's no answer. People adopt a Code of Silence because they are afraid. Vincentians are called to serve body and...

Formation’s Scratchy Side

by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 31, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

Formation’s Scratchy Side (Isaiah 66:18-21; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13) All of us entering this Vincentian Family have to go through what is known as “formation.” Formation: people being formed, shaped, molded – maybe better, being re-molded, re-shaped, and maybe even...

Who’s Missing: A Systemic Change Reflection

by James Claffey | Aug 31, 2016 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change

A recent U.S.A. news headline: “Poor seem far down list on candidates’ agendas.” No real surprise there! In the last presidential campaign in the United States, neither President Obama nor Mr. Romney ever mentioned people living in poverty in major campaign addresses...

Way that Leads to Truth and Gives Life

by Ross Dizon | Aug 30, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

Jesus guides our feet into the way of the Kingdom of God. Great crowds follow Jesus who is on his way to Jerusalem. But quality is more important to him than quantity. Hence, he lays out his demands in a disconcerting way. First, Jesus demands that those who seek...

Why are we here? – THINK before acting

by Lynn L'Heureux | Aug 29, 2016 | Formation, Reflections, Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Why are we here? T.H.I.N.K. before acting – How do others know? Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast, Repost from April 2013 Prayer is a blessing. We all need to make the time to pray. Put God #1 on your agenda. Before each meeting pray that the discussion will bless...

Collaboration Between Two Exceptional People

by John Freund, CM | Aug 27, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

J. Patrick Murphy reminds us in his booklet Mr. Vincent of the collaboration of two exceptional people - Vincent and Louise. In Louise de Marillac Vincent found the perfect partner to build his business model and bring about change that shocked the world. Louise, like...

Vincentian Self-worth

by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | Aug 25, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

Self-worth is not a phrase that would have been much discussed in the 17th century. You're not going to find it in the lexicon of St. Vincent. But the concept was not foreign to him. He knew that of human worth (and because of that, self-worth) was founded on what God...

A Vincentian View: Giving Your Best

by Pat Griffin, CM | Aug 24, 2016 | Formation, Reflections

A Vincentian View “Giving Your Best” I have been on vacation for the past two weeks. I feel fortunate that these were the two weeks of the Olympic Games. During the first week, I was with my two sisters and my brother’s family in Northboro, MA. We spent much of the...

Seeds of Future Systemic Changes?

by John Freund, CM | Aug 24, 2016 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change

Seeds of future systemic changes….Father Gregory Gay, during his twelve years as Superior General, consistently invited us to think beyond what we were accustomed to, especially in terms of collaboration for systemic change. Here are the questions that he presented in...