Years ago, walking along a crowded beach, I came upon a group of people gathered around a crying, screaming child.
![Hearing The Voice (John 10:1-10)](https://b704496.smushcdn.com/704496/en/files/2016/02/mckenna-tom-reflections-featured-facebook-1.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
by Tom McKenna, CM | July 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
Images for God — metaphors and visuals that catch something more fundamental and grounded than ideas for God.
by Tom McKenna, CM | July 10, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
We all know the phrase, “getting to the bottom of it.” It means digging down beneath the outside appearances to the inner core of something
by Tom McKenna, CM | June 26, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
I remember a man complaining that there was too much dissention in his family. He used a memorable phrase to describe their connections: “In a given month, who’s in and who’s out?”
by Tom McKenna, CM | June 12, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 4 Comments
The motto on the great seal of the United States is the Latin “E Pluribus Unum.” It’s translated: “Out of the Many, One.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 18, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
Years ago, walking along a crowded beach, I came upon a group of people gathered around a crying, screaming child.
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 4, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
“They recounted how…he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 6, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
In Luke’s 15th chapter, Jesus relates his perhaps most famous parable, aiming to open another window onto the Kingdom of God, especially its meaning for the present.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Dec 13, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Nimble in Advent (Is. 64; I Cor 1:3; Mk. 13:33) There’s a term I’ve heard used lately in business circles that’s practically become a buzz word. And that’s “nimble.” It refers to the quickness with which a given company can react to changes happening in the world...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 29, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
“Getting Ready” (Wisdom 6:12-16; Mt 25:1-13) “Be Prepared” is a famous theme in Boy Scout lore but also frequently shows up in the Scriptures. The injunction in the Book of Wisdom to keep a watchful eye for the coming of God’s presence (Wisdom 6), and Jesus’ praise of...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 15, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Some years ago, I experienced what you might call a “surprise in sound.” Coming down a corridor talking with a few other people in normal voices, we turned a corner into a smaller space. All at once our voices took on another sound -- fuller, richer, you might even...
by Katie Cassady, CVV 12 and former staff | Nov 5, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Admittedly I have been tremendously influenced by Vincentians in my adult life. Prior to that, I had known of the ministry of the Vincentians (read: I had heard of the St. Vincent de Paul Society) since I was little. Unfortunately, that probably remains the...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 1, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
I remember talking to a man who was leaving a good position in his company after over 30 years on the job. He didn’t want to, but he said it wasn’t the same company he had come to those three decades ago. He lamented that it had lost its lights and heart, particularly...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 18, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Just last week at the end of a sequence of calamitous happenings in the country and world, someone remarked that if he had one wish it would be that when turning on the news he’d hear something other than bad news. His wish caught the dark and heavy feelings of the...
by Famvin Media Resources | Oct 6, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
In a talk for the International Association of the Miraculous Medal, Andrés Pato, C.M. spoke about Vincentian Spirituality. Read and share inspiring quotes from this talk, in this Slideshare presentation.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 4, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
I know two young men who were given a set of CD’s of the greats in classical music. Neither of them ever listened to nor had any appreciation for this kind of track. The one said, “This stuff is boring and even hard on my ears. I’ll humor my uncle who gave them to me,...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 27, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
To us who live in a time when extremes on the left and right of the spectrum seem glaring, St. Paul comes with this counsel for keeping on course. “Do not conform yourselves to this age. But be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” To paraphrase him, “There are...