Systemic change

The Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Systemic Change

by .famvin | February 1, 2025 | Formation, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Systemic change | 0 Comments

The Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul emphasizes a commitment to systemic change by addressing both immediate needs and the root causes of poverty through charity and justice. Guided by their values of human dignity, solidarity, and the preferential option for the poor, Vincentians strive to transform lives, foster self-sufficiency, and advocate for a more equitable and compassionate society.

Are You a “Whack-a-mole” or “Big picture” Person?

by John Freund, CM | March 16, 2022 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 0 Comments

It occurs to me that there are two approaches to problem-solving. – “Whack-a-mole” or “Big Picture.”

Luke’s Gospel – Trees or Forest?

by John Freund, CM | March 11, 2022 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 0 Comments

I often heard two seemingly contradictory thoughts about parents in “real families.”

Our “Real Families”

by John Freund, CM | March 9, 2022 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 0 Comments

I often heard two seemingly contradictory thoughts about parents in “real families.”

How a Baby Changes Everything

by John Freund, CM | Dec 2, 2020 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change

A baby changes everything. Never was that truer than in the birth of the one we call Jesus of Nazareth. The birth of Jesus literally changed everything for everyone.

Les Miserables – Vincentian Influences and Reflections

by John Freund, CM | Nov 27, 2020 | Formation, Justice and Peace, Reflections

Les Miserables strikes a chord in Vincentians when they hear… To love another person is to see the face of God. Victor Hugo admired Vincent de Paul. He based the character of the Bishop on Vincent de Paul.

Systemic Change Begins with Education

by John Freund, CM | Nov 18, 2020 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change, Vincentian Family

St. Vincent instinctively realized the role of laypersons in bringing about systemic change.

Developing a Culture of Mission

by John Freund, CM | Oct 10, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change, Vincentian Family

This post connects a couple of dots. The first dot is that systemic change flourishes when there is a careful understanding of the situation. The other dot is that that a culture of vocations is really a culture of mission.

The Synod as an Emmaus Journey!

by John Freund, CM | Oct 3, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change, Vincentian Family

My hope is that all the participants of the Youth Synod will experience their own version of the Emmaus journey – looking at things they thought they knew… but seeing them in a new light. Now that would be the beginning of a profound systemic change!

Thank You Vincent – You Changed Your World… and Our World

by John Freund, CM | Sep 26, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change, Vincentian Family

After reading this post I suspect you too will say… Thank you, Vincent, for being such an amazing change agent in your time and even our times.

Vincentian Role Models for a Systemic Change Approach

by John Freund, CM | Sep 19, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change, Vincentian Family

We have been asked to devote some energy and study to knowing more about our heritage and role models. As I reflected on this it occurred to me that this might be an occasion to informally reflect on our heritage as agents of systemic change.

Someone’s Drowning! What Would You Do?

by John Freund, CM | Sep 12, 2018 | Formation, Justice and Peace, Reflections, Systemic change

If you see someone drowning in a river, what would you do? Would you try to save the person by jumping in? Would you call 911? Many of us would be wiser to call 911 rather than jumping in ourselves. This could lead to forcing emergency personnel to cope with two...

What’s With This “New Thing” Called Systemic Change?

by John Freund, CM | Sep 5, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change

Let’s be clear! Systemic Change goes back to Vincent’s earliest days at Chatillon when he organized the relief efforts for the sick family. What is new is our rediscovery of our Vincentian heritage.

The Miracle of Seeing

by John Freund, CM | Aug 29, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change

The miracle of seeing! What a miracle seeing is! So often it is taken for granted by those who can see. Lose your sight even just temporarily and your world changes. Technology is working miracles today, technology is helping the "blind" to see. But technology can...

The Day St. Vincent Shifted from Retail to Wholesale

by John Freund, CM | Aug 24, 2018 | Formation, Systemic change

Four hundred years later the story St. Vincent’s sermon at Chattilon is still being told. But it is a story with even wider implications. The story of that sermon at Chatillon is the foundation story for what we call today systemic change.