With the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are all struggling to make sense of the past few weeks since the murder of George Floyd.

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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
by John Freund, CM | Jun 13, 2020 | Formation, Homelessness, Reflections, Systemic change
With the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are all struggling to make sense of the past few weeks since the murder of George Floyd.
by John Freund, CM | Jun 10, 2020 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change
As you prepare to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, have you ever thought of how it provides the underpinnings for systemic change?
by Spalding Hurst | Jun 4, 2020 | Justice and Peace, News
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth delivered a statement affirming the despair being felt because voices have not been heard.
by Jim Claffey | Jun 28, 2017 | Formation, Systemic change
“Those on top, like politicians and church leaders, talk a lot about peace, but not about justice, because speaking of peace sounds good to others on top and to the naïve on the bottom, but to speak of justice sounds bad to those on top because it opens the eyes of...
by John Freund, CM | Jun 21, 2017 | Homelessness, News, Systemic change
“The intersection of urgent need and lasting impact.” What a simple way of expressing where members of the Vincentian Family try to live.
by Julie Eckert | Jun 18, 2017 | Formation, Justice and Peace, Poverty: Analysis and Responses
In March 2015, IJM President and Founder Gary Haugen delivered a talk on the TED2015 stage in Vancouver, Canada. His message? There’s a reason that so many are still living in poverty today and our development efforts are being undermined by a phenomenon too...
by Jim Claffey | Jun 14, 2017 | Formation, Systemic change
It caught my eye immediately. A statue on his desk—a bullfight scene. But not what you would expect. This one was strikingly different—here the bull was sitting on the matador holding him down! Talk about the unexpected. A paradigm shift? No, a complete reversal! We...
by John Freund, CM | Jun 7, 2017 | Formation, Systemic change
Renowned systemic thinker Peter Senge and colleagues make a bold assertion. "Ineffective leaders try to make change happen." Most of the visitors to this site are familiar with how often Vincent pointed out that neither he nor Louise de Marillac thought the things...
by Jim Claffey | May 31, 2017 | News, Systemic change
Recently, Ana Maria Escano, our SC coordinator for the Philippines, gave a 2-day seminar at Sacred Heart College in Lucena City, a Daughters of Charity Institution located 4 miles from Manila. The 58 participants of this seminar were the staff of the different Social...
by John Freund, CM | May 24, 2017 | News, Systemic change
One big idea could change everything. The Innovation Mission initiative of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland in collaboration with Cleveland Leadership Center is looking for big ideas that could change systems. The initiative is rooted in the belief...
by John Freund, CM | May 17, 2017 | Formation, Systemic change
Real change starts with recognizing that we are part of the systems we seek to change. The fear and distrust we seek to remedy also exist within us—as do the anger, sorrow, doubt, and frustration. Our actions will not become more effective until we shift the nature of the awareness and thinking behind the actions.
by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | May 14, 2017 | Formation, Justice and Peace
The Church speaks clearly in opposition to the death penalty. “The dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance...