This four-week series by Fr Robert P. Maloney, C.M. aims at helping members of the Vincentian Family find more ways of talking and reflecting about concept systemic change and its implications. This week, Fr. Maloney shows how modern concepts of systemic change fit into the context of the Vincentian Family. –.ed
The concept of “systemic change†is a contemporary one. It was unknown in St. Vincent’s time, though Vincent himself expressed many related ideas.
When he gathered the first group of women to form a “Confraternity of Charity†at Chatillon-les-Dombes in November 1617, in the Rule he composed for them he stated that the poor sometimes suffer more from a lack of “order†in the help offered them rather than from a lack of charitable persons who want to help. Thus, he encouraged his followers to examine various elements in the lives of the poor to see what their most urgent needs were: nourishment, health care, education, job opportunities, spiritual care. He wrote precise rules for all the groups he founded so that their service to others would he well organized.
There are three key phrases in Vincent’s writings that today that relate to the the various branches of the Vincentian Family.
The first phrase is that our love is to be both “affective and effective.†Vincent repeated this theme over and over again. He says, for example, “The love of a Daughter of Charity is not only tender; it is effective, because they serve the poor concretely.â€
The second phrase is that we minister to the poor “spiritually and corporally.†Vincent uses this phrase in speaking to all the groups he founded: the Confraternities of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, and the Daughters of Charity. He tells the Daughters of Charity that they should tend not only to bodily needs, hut also share their faith with the poor by their witness and heir words. And he warns the members of the Congregation of the Mission that they should not think of their mission in exclusively spiritual terms. Rather, they too should care for the sick, the foundlings, the insane, even the most abandoned.’
The third phrases that we are to proclaim the good news “by word and workâ€. Vincent was deeply convinced that what we say and what we do must reinforce one another. First, do. Then, teach. That is St. Vincent’s rule for “effective†evangelization. In other words, Vincent sees preaching, teaching and human promotion as complementary to one another, and as integral to the evangelization process.
Today, the unity between evangelization and human promotion, so much a part of Vincent’s spirit, is one of the main emphases in the Church’s social teaching.
In light of these three phrases, so fundamental in our Vincentian Family’s spirituality, we have often reflected over the last two decades on the appeal that Pope John Paul 11 addressed to the General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission in 1 986:
Search out more than, with boldness, humility and skill, the causes of poverty and encourage short and long-term solutions — adaptable and effective concrete solutions. By doing so you will work for the credibility of the gospel and of the Church.
In our efforts toward systemic change, we seek not only to assist the poor in their immediate needs by providing food, clothing and shelter. but to help them change the social system within which they live, so that they might emerge from poverty. That work carries forward the heart of Vincent’s direction for the Vincentian Family.
Tags: Anti-poverty strategies, Robert P. Maloney, Systemic change, Vincentian Family
Excellent. I look forward to the follow up articles. Thank you for all you do to help the family in our spiritual growth. Fr. Maloney, Since attending the day on Systemic Change at All Hallows College, it has been disappointing that there appears to be no way of connecting with the Vincentians to discuss ‘Systemic Change’. Unity, Modern web allows various user activated services called popularly “web 2.0”. VIncentian Family is already present in networking either at YouTube group or at YouTube and GodTube channels which you can find in Vincentian Encyclopedia on Vincentians and You Tube and Vincentians and GodTube Perhaps our present Systematic Change discussion is not you are expecting to find. But every new member and user like you can make it growing and developing. Please meet us in the web 2.0! Truly delighted to read your comment! For the moment I suggest you go to http://www.facebook.com and then search for “Vincentian Systemic Change” There are a number of entries in the Vincentian Encyclopedia (or wiki) focusing on systemic change. For starters… http://famvin.org/wiki/Systemic_Change_and_the_Vincentian_Family For each of these and other articles there is a “Discussion” link. One need only be a registered user to start or participate in a discussion. There are also some YouTube channels… We here at famvin.org will open up any channels that will foster such discussions. The purpose of famvin.org is much more than providing information. In the spirit of Vicent we hope to be a tool fostering collaboration and advocacy. “Let us love God with the sweat of our brows and the strength of our arms. Let us know how else we can be of help in fostering collaboration among the people inspired by Vincent, Louise and Frederic regardless of whether they are part of existing groups or not.5 Comments
Thank you so much for this extremely useful information regarding systemic change.Your writing is both clear and insightful. Between your explanations and “Seeds of Hope,” we have been given such a gift! This concept of achieving systemic change is not only possible, but integral to our Vincentian mission.
Thank you, again.
While it is useful and helpful to read articles on the internet, this does not necessarily help develop ‘relationships’ within the Vincentian Family.
Do you envisage creating any group that will include people like myself who are inspired by Vincent (all my life) but who are not ‘officially’ part of the Vincentian Family? Where is the space for gathering in new ways that may be initated by the Holy Spirit, where people find themselves by chance living and following the spirit of Vincent? Are the doors closed to new ideas, and new ways?
God bless the work. Sincerely. Unity
your question is very appealing. Thank you.
Vincentian Family is not only the global group of people belonging to communities and congregations. It is a place for all those who, as you mentioned, “are inspired by Vincent all the life”. You are Family member if you you feel you are spiritual son/daughter of Mr Vincent.
If you are Facebook user you can freely join our Vincentian Systematic Change group. If you are not Facebook user you are invited to join it.
http://famvin.org/wiki/Systemic_Change
http://www.youtube.com/famvinglobal
http://www.youtube.com/famvin2007
Excellent. I look forward to the follow up articles. Thank you for all you do to help the family in our spiritual growth.
Fr. Maloney,
Thank you so much for this extremely useful information regarding systemic change.Your writing is both clear and insightful. Between your explanations and “Seeds of Hope,” we have been given such a gift! This concept of achieving systemic change is not only possible, but integral to our Vincentian mission.
Thank you, again.
Since attending the day on Systemic Change at All Hallows College, it has been disappointing that there appears to be no way of connecting with the Vincentians to discuss ‘Systemic Change’.
While it is useful and helpful to read articles on the internet, this does not necessarily help develop ‘relationships’ within the Vincentian Family.
Do you envisage creating any group that will include people like myself who are inspired by Vincent (all my life) but who are not ‘officially’ part of the Vincentian Family? Where is the space for gathering in new ways that may be initated by the Holy Spirit, where people find themselves by chance living and following the spirit of Vincent? Are the doors closed to new ideas, and new ways?
God bless the work. Sincerely. Unity
Unity,
your question is very appealing. Thank you.
Vincentian Family is not only the global group of people belonging to communities and congregations. It is a place for all those who, as you mentioned, “are inspired by Vincent all the life”. You are Family member if you you feel you are spiritual son/daughter of Mr Vincent.
Modern web allows various user activated services called popularly “web 2.0”. VIncentian Family is already present in networking either at YouTube group or at YouTube and GodTube channels which you can find in Vincentian Encyclopedia on Vincentians and You Tube and Vincentians and GodTube
If you are Facebook user you can freely join our Vincentian Systematic Change group. If you are not Facebook user you are invited to join it.
Perhaps our present Systematic Change discussion is not you are expecting to find. But every new member and user like you can make it growing and developing.
Please meet us in the web 2.0!
Truly delighted to read your comment!
For the moment I suggest you go to http://www.facebook.com and then search for “Vincentian Systemic Change”
There are a number of entries in the Vincentian Encyclopedia (or wiki) focusing on systemic change. For starters…
http://famvin.org/wiki/Systemic_Change_and_the_Vincentian_Family
http://famvin.org/wiki/Systemic_Change
For each of these and other articles there is a “Discussion” link. One need only be a registered user to start or participate in a discussion.
There are also some YouTube channels…
http://www.youtube.com/famvinglobal
http://www.youtube.com/famvin2007
We here at famvin.org will open up any channels that will foster such discussions.
The purpose of famvin.org is much more than providing information. In the spirit of Vicent we hope to be a tool fostering collaboration and advocacy. “Let us love God with the sweat of our brows and the strength of our arms.
Let us know how else we can be of help in fostering collaboration among the people inspired by Vincent, Louise and Frederic regardless of whether they are part of existing groups or not.