Stories of Systemic Change (This marks the sixth in a series of 10 Vincentian family projects that will be described by Fr. Robert Maloney, Chair of the Systemic Change initiative in the Vincentian Family.)
7. Systemic Change and the Vincentian Mission the United Nations
Throughout his life, St. Vincent de Paul had a deep love for the marginalized, recognizing the dignity of each human person. He founded numerous lay groups and apostolic communities of men and women, the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity, to address the human and spiritual needs of those people overlooked by society. At first the work of the groups he founded was localized in France, but soon missionaries spread the gospel to many corners of the world. Today, the Vincentian Family carries out its mission within the context of a growing global community, addressing the needs of the poor in many different ways. At the United Nations, Fr. Joseph Foley, C.M., works with NGOs to help formulate, and put into practice, worldwide strategies that focus on systemic change.
The United Nations is an organization that, at its core, strives to protect the human rights of all, promote peace and security, and foster economic and social development. It is a forum for international dialogue aimed at creating global consensus and action around a host of pressing issues including poverty eradication and human rights. It also monitors and attempts to influence the process of globalization in such a way that its negative effects on the world’s poor are minimized.
In order to help make the voice of the Vincentian Family heard in this forum, Fr. Joseph Foley serves as representative of the Congregation of the Mission to the United Nations. Other branches of the Family have representatives too. As an officially recognized representative, Fr. Foley has full access to all open meetings of UN bodies, which he can attend as an observer. In addition, he is invited to attend the regular Thursday NGO briefings organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI), which feature UN officials, delegates and other experts. He also receives monthly mailings announcing UN conferences, seminars, briefings and other events.
Official recognition at the UN enables him to be involved in systemic change issues which resonate with the Vincentian mission. As Fr. Robert Maloney, C.M., pointed out in the official application, “our main interest is to work with the DPI in raising consciousness about the poor in various nations and in helping to implement programs that will work toward eradicating poverty.†The Vincentian Family’s representatives are in a position to draw upon the resources of the UN to achieve this goal.
In short, as representative of the Congregation of the Mission to the UN, Fr. Foley has the opportunity to contribute to the formulation of global policies to improve the situation of the poor in countries throughout the world. The Vincentian voice that he brings to the UN speaks out for systemic change in works among the poor.
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