Systemic change
Thanksgiving with Mary – Celebrating God’s Upside Down World
by John Freund, CM | November 21, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 0 Comments
Mary’s thanksgiving hymn is actually a hymn celebrating God’s “systemic change” of seeing things as God sees things … and an invitation to live it in our lives.
Questions for Digital Passersby and Good Samaritans
by John Freund, CM | November 14, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change, Vincentian Family at the U.N. | 2 Comments
The Voice of the Poor, the wounded on the road to Jericho today. Some questions for digital passersby and good Samaritans.
Some Things We Can All Agree On!
by John Freund, CM | October 31, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice, Systemic change | 1 Comment
We pray in thanksgiving for the privilege and responsibility of being able to organize as individuals politically. We pray that each of us, as citizens, feel compelled to exercise our right and responsibility to vote…
Life Lessons From the Lottery
by John Freund, CM | October 24, 2018 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 0 Comments
What would you spend a billion on? Go ahead… let yourself dream a bit.
![When Vincentian and Jesuit Saints Meet](https://b704496.smushcdn.com/704496/en/files/2019/08/featured-image-vincent-Albert-Hurtado.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
When Vincentian and Jesuit Saints Meet
by John Freund, CM | Aug 21, 2019 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change
St. Vincent and St. Alberto Hurtado sitting around the table with the poor they loved and served. So different yet, with so much in common.
![A Conductor Notices](https://b704496.smushcdn.com/704496/en/files/2018/07/girl-playing-flute.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
A Conductor Notices
by John Freund, CM | Aug 14, 2019 | Formation, Systemic change
We may sometimes feel like that piccolo player – that we don’t have much to offer, that if we stopped our ministry no one would notice anyway. Yet the Great Conductor notices, and needs us to complete his orchestral masterpiece!
![A Question That Built a City!](https://b704496.smushcdn.com/704496/en/files/2018/06/fr-opeka-featured.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
A Question That Built a City!
by John Freund, CM | Aug 7, 2019 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change
The question that built a city! “Do you love your children?” When he received an affirmative response, he said: “Let’s work together, give them a future.”
Maya Angelou, “untold stories” and the Vincentian Family
by John Freund, CM | May 29, 2014 | Systemic change, Vincentian Family
“There is no greater burden than carrying an untold story.” Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Making time for what you believe in
by John Freund, CM | May 21, 2014 | News, Poverty: Analysis and Responses, Systemic change
In "Making Time", Mike Clark, the Executive Director of the Germantown Systemic Change Initiative, reflects on his personal experiences in making time for a project to which he is deeply committed. He writes "I leave conferences organized by the Vincentian Family so...
Frederic Ozanam – Systemic Thinking and Change
by John Freund, CM | Apr 26, 2014 | Systemic change, Vincentian Family
The National Office of the SVDP draws attention to an excerpt of National Board of Director's Stategic Goal Leader 4, Ray Sickinger's contribution to the publication Vincentian Heritage: FREDERIC OZANAM: SYSTEMIC THINKING AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE A number of biographies...
A North American approach to systemic change
by John Freund, CM | Apr 12, 2014 | Systemic change
Background for North American definition of Systemic change provided by Fr. Lou Arceneaux. In 2006 an international committee was established by Father Greg Gay, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, to focus on systemic change. That committee,...
SVDP participation in National Poverty Summit
by John Freund, CM | Mar 28, 2014 | Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Systemic change, Vincentian Family
From David Barringer, CEO of the St. Vincent dePaul Society USA... March 27, 2014 Next Wednesday April 2nd, President Sheila Gilbert and I will participate in a National Poverty Summit hosted by Catholic Charities and involving members of government, media and...
“Thanks to CLM, I know how to fight.”
by John Freund, CM | Mar 22, 2014 | Poverty: Analysis and Responses, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice, Systemic change
CLM is part of a systemic change project in the Vincentian Family. Former Superior General Robert Maloney describes a Haitian Initiative “Pathway to a Better Life” in an earlier famvin post. The following piece from Fonkose describes the reaction of a graduate....
Saturday Study Hall – “Change your way of thinking”
by John Freund, CM | Mar 7, 2014 | Formation, Systemic change
"Change your way of thinking!" I was really struck the first time I realized that the root meaning of "metanoia" or "repent" was "change your way of thinking". Since then every Lent I try to look at what needs to change in my way of thinking about what God is asking...
Saturday Study Hall – Change in depth
by John Freund, CM | Jan 31, 2014 | Formation, Systemic change, Vincentian Family
The series "Saturday Study Hall" explores a topic in greater depth through the resources of the Vincentian Encyclopedia. (A counter-part, Formation Fridays, explores the more practical resources of VinFormation.) Many will find it particularly interesting to re-read...
Formation Friday – Systemic change
by John Freund, CM | Jan 30, 2014 | Systemic change, Vincentian Family
"Systemic change" - a phrase that has entered into the Vincentian Family vocabulary in recent years. For many who are used to focusing on the immediate and pressing needs of people it can seem abstract and new. Yet it has roots deep in Vincentian Family tradition...