Take care of your people; celebrate small successes.
J. Patrick Murphy
Collaboration Between Two Exceptional People
J. Patrick Murphy reminds us in his booklet Mr. Vincent of the collaboration of two exceptional people – Vincent...
Vincent Could Tell a Good Story
J. Patrick Murphy, CM writes of Mr. Vincent that he had a feisty temper, was a good mimic, could tell a good story,...
St. Vincent, Kevin Spacey and sending the elevator back down
An elevator goes up, goes down. People get on and off. I live in a large Vincentian community facility where at 78 I like to think I am in the mid-range age group of this community (okay maybe upper). It is no surprise that the elevator is crucial for so many of us....
Following Vincent – “Wherever He Went Good Things Happened”
Let’s get right to the point! Do good things happen wherever you and I go? Why is this question important? For at least two reasons! We call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ. And of him, it was said, “You know what has happened throughout the...
What was it like to learn from Vincent?
You have seen the graphic for this series. What was is like to sit across the table from Vincent and learn from him? Each Tuesday the more pastorally concerned clergy would gather to learn from Vincent. Abelly states that more than 12,000 ordinands made their retreats...
How St. Vincent went from retail to wholesale
The story of the impact of one of Vincent early sermons is well known in Vincentian circles, especially among the Ladies of Charity. Indeed, it is their “foundation story.” Four hundred years later that story is still being told. But it is a story with even wider...
The value of vulnerability… and eye openers
Ever wonder what made Vincent Vincent? Here’s a thought. The value of vulnerability and eye-openers. A few days ago I read a description of Jesus’ way of formation. It went something like this… When Jesus sent his apostles into society he insisted they be...
When am I most the image and likeness of God?
We all know that we were made in the image and likeness of God. But think about the question Fr. Pat Griffin asked retreatants in his closing conference at a recent retreat. “When do I most experience myself as made in God’s image and likeness? I was amazed as he...
Do Vincentians have the smell of sheep?
Few visitors to the Internet have not read about Pope Francis telling priests to “be shepherds with the smell of sheep.” “The priest who seldom goes out of himself … misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart. … This...
What would Vincent do today? – Wrong question
Before Henry Ford built his first car, he was quoted as saying: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would’ve said faster horses.” The right answer, but the wrong question. The astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus asked in 1543: “Could it be...
