This past weekend contained the “moving-in” days at St. John’s.
Reflections
A Vincentian View: Journeying Together – Joseph and Mary
by Pat Griffin, CM | December 22, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
Pope Francis has decided that an emphasis in our Catholic community for the next few years will focus our attention on the concept of “synodality.”
A Vincentian View: The Holy Name of Jesus
by Pat Griffin, CM | December 8, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 4 Comments
From the earliest days of my Catholic education, the good School Sisters of Notre Dame taught my young schoolmates and me to bow our heads when we said the name “Jesus.”
A Vincentian View: A Thankful Man
by Pat Griffin, CM | November 24, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
In this year dedicated to St. Joseph, I have written several times on the way in which the Psalms can express the thinking and praying of the Holy Family.
A Vincentian View: The Guardian
by Pat Griffin, CM | November 10, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
I like the term “guardian.” It has an association with St. Joseph. Frequently he receives the title “Guardian of the Lord” and “Guardian of the Holy Family.”
A Vincentian View: Being Vincent de Paul
by Pat Griffin, CM | Aug 17, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
“Being Vincent de Paul” can prompt our reflection. The intent, however, should not be to compare ourselves to him but to allow our love for the poor to be inspired by his witness.
A Vincentian View: Being Rich in What Matters to God
by Pat Griffin, CM | Aug 3, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
The blessing of abundance carries with it a responsibility. Jesus points out that truth when he tells the parable of the rich man with the abundant harvest.
A Vincentian View: A Vincentian Family
by Pat Griffin, CM | Jan 24, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: A Vincentian Family Sometimes it is hard not to take pride in being a member of the Vincentian Family. In my role as Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John’s University, I have been in Kenya for the past week. I came...
A Vincentian View: Keeping in the Heart
by Pat Griffin, CM | Jan 3, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: Keeping in the Heart Some of my friends can be categorized as falling into one of two groups. In one are those people who keep everything and who are not particularly concerned with organization. Their desks are piled high with books and magazines...
A Vincentian View: Light in the Night
by Pat Griffin, CM | Dec 20, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: Light in the Night “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Like many of you, I have heard those words sung numerous times in the past weeks. An odd thought flitted through my mind during one of these recent hearings: “How do we know that Jesus was born at...
A Vincentian View: Remembering to be Grateful
by Pat Griffin, CM | Dec 6, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: Remembering to be Grateful Just about two weeks have passed since we celebrated Thanksgiving. I spent the day with many members of my family and felt the blessing which accompanies such a gathering. Leading those closest to me in prayer before we...
A Vincentian View: Three Stories – One Direction
by Pat Griffin, CM | Nov 22, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: Three Stories—One Direction Have you noticed that in the Sunday Gospels of these weeks, the passages have all been taken from successive verses in the 25th chapter of Matthew? The “Parable of the Ten Virgins” is Mt 25:1-13 (November 12); the...
A Vincentian View: The Lord Hears
by Pat Griffin, CM | Nov 8, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: The Lord Hears A number of phrases in the Scriptures of the past weeks have stayed in the front of my mind. I have felt the truth of these words and the considerable summons which they offer. From one hearing, they bring consolation and...
A Vincentian View: Homelessness
by Pat Griffin, CM | Oct 25, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: Homelessness Once every two years, St. John’s runs a “Poverty Conference.” This conference invites a discussion on an important situation in our society which impacts upon those who are poor and marginalized. In the past few years, issues like...
A Vincentian View: A Message for Us
by Pat Griffin, CM | Oct 11, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: A Message for Us I have been to more than one Vincent event in the past two weeks which contained an opening prayer which included some passage from Pope Francis’ message to the Vincentian Family on September 27th. Different people, different...
A Vincentian View: 2417
by Pat Griffin, CM | Sep 20, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: 2417 400 years. For the universe, or the pyramids, or the Judeo-Christian faith, it does not seem like such a long time, but for human life it really is. In this year, as we all know, we celebrate the 400th anniversary of our Vincentian charism....