Here I reflect on a “prequel” to the very first council, the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). I will also fast-forward to the two-year-long “sequel” taking place right now.
Systemic change
Learning to See What Jesus Sees?
That day, as Jesus sat in the temple precincts, what impressed him? What caught his eye?
Are You a Vincentian Cricket?
It is only in my later years that I have realized how he has influenced the Church of today!
Flying Geese, Fighter Pilots and Ministry
The next time you watch a flock of geese, pause for a moment — think about what they can teach us about ministry in general and, especially, “long-haul” ministries of systemic change.
What Can We Learn From Grasshoppers?
“When you first capture the grasshopper, it jumps and jumps and jumps, trying to get out, banging its head against the lid.”
“But the longer the grasshopper’s in there, the less high it jumps, the less it tries, until finally it just sits on the bottom.
Which Story Interests You Most?
Whose story are you most aware of? Can you recognize the interconnection of all stories? Do Vincentians have a special vocation as storytellers?
Imagine! Frederic Ozanam Addresses Congress
After viewing the presentation of Sr. Claire Sweeney, DC on Frederick Ozanam and Social Justice, I fantasized what he might say if he, like Pope Francis, were invited to address a joint session of Congress.
Is the Church a Closet?
Is the Church like a closet where we wistfully keep things from the past, a dreary chamber filled only with us, our problems and our disappointments? Then it will be impossible to recognize God’s silent and unassuming presence.
Are We Ministerial “Rip Van Winkles”?
For over twenty years we have been living in the very early stages of a “digital revolution.” We are just now beginning to realize how this digital revolution is impacting every facet of our lives.
Unrecognized Experts
People experiencing poverty have an expertise that can not be taught in a classroom. They know their situation from the inside. They understand many dimensions of poverty that may not occur to us.
A Daring Prudence – Systemic Change
“… create a Family that looks to the past for inspiration, but is also eager to create a vibrant innovative collaborative future in the service of the most abandoned.” Fr. Robert Maloney
Wide-angle View of the Vincentian Family
We are people with a mission…to do what Jesus did. Pople who use the skills of their profession in frontline “field hospitals” or mobilize those who are committed to “seeking long-term solutions.”
