Bold advocacy calls for courage. We might lose friends, not everyone will agree with us. And for an organization it can be very challenging to take a public stance on a controversial issue.
Formation: systemic change reflections
Thanksgiving with Mary – Celebrating God’s Upside Down World
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
The Voice of the Poor, the wounded on the road to Jericho today. Some questions for digital passersby and good Samaritans.
The Good Samaritan and Systemic Change: A Call to Youth
I wonder how many homilies over the years have urged us to be like the Good Samaritan! Young people making a pilgrimage to Krakow this month are a “summons” to the entire Church to ditch the “bad systems” which encourage a merciless heart, Archbishop Mark Coleridge...
Matthew 25: A Vincentian Life Process
“A process for Christian Life, a practical way to respond lovingly to the God who first loved us." You may have heard the expression “a Matthew 25 Christian,” referring to someone who emphasizes the Last Judgment in her approach to the faith. This approach takes the...
Compassion and Systemic Change: A Vincentian Reflection
“Whatever else our God does, the first outburst is always compassion” Those striking words were penned by a theologian in the 14th century. Compassion: perhaps no other word goes more directly to the heart of the Gospel message, because it goes to the heart of God’s...
Anyone Listening?
A Vincentian Reflection on Listening and Systemic Change Someone actively engaged in ministry told me recently that he ran into a person from his former place of service, who thanked him profusely for helping her with a problem years ago. The minister was...
A Heritage of Systemic Change
We have a great heritage. Sharing that heritage can help the systemic change process and the process of collaboration within the Family. Two men born in April, with feast days in September, but otherwise very different individuals in significant ways. How did two such...
The “stress of poverty” and systemic change
The culture of poverty, characterized by feelings of marginalism, dependence and exclusion, originates within the family, starting in childhood. Social and behavioral sciences recognize “poverty stress” beginning at a very young age. For almost nine years, Dan...
Uncomfortable with systemic change?
Uncomfortable with systemic change? It is no secret that many people are uncomfortable with systemic change. It seems to be so hard to get a handle on. On the other hand there are others who are comfortable with what they think is systemic change. Actually what they...
Asking important questions
In his weekly column to the members of the Vincent de Paul Society, CEO Dave Barringer has a habit of asking important questions. This week is no exception. The question he asks is something that all branches on the Vincentian Family can ask. Do we sometimes not...
Ladies of Charity reflect on Vincentian Collaboration
The latest edition of the Ladies of Charity USA Servicette is attached. It features a wonderful article on Vincentian collaboration. LCUSA President Mary Ann Dantuono reflects on how Collaboration and systemic change are important. She writes... The elements of...
