St. Vincent and Lay Ministry – John Prager, CM

Text of presentation by John Prager, CM at the Vincentian Month for Advisors to the Vincentian Family.Whenever we look back to the past for insight into present-day realities there is a danger of creating something that never existed.  That is particularly true for the topic of today’s conference because St. Vincent never gives a systematic presentation of his ideas on lay ministry.  It is easy enough to avoid the data which contradicts my point of view and create a St. Vincent as I wish him to be, rather than as he was.  I have tried to keep that in mind with this presentation.

            I think St. Vincent is a starting point.  He lived the Vincentian charism in the 17th century with certain sensitivities toward the problems of his time.  For his followers in the 21st century he indicates a direction.  We need take up some of those Vincentian sensitivities and look at them from our own perspective.  Some of the saint’s insights need to be developed in a new context and perhaps taken in new directions.  In this presentation I just want to point out some of the Vincentian sensitivities which might orient our own collaboration with lay ministers.

http://www.famvin.net/cm/curia/vincentiana/2002/prager-laity.html