Mary Beth Kubera, DC files the following report of his meeting with Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, Vincentian Service Corps-West, Vincentian Service Corps Central, Vincentian Lay Missionaries.

On Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24, about 25 members of the Vincentian Family gathered at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Chicago, to meet with Superior General Father Greg Gay. The group included alumni who had completed the following Vincentian programs as well as their coordinators and spiritual advisors: Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, Vincentian Service Corps-West, Vincentian Service Corps Central, Vincentian Lay Missionaries. Two faculty members of DePaul University and the coordinator of the St. Vincent Center in Philadelphia were also present.

After sharing how Vincentian Lay Missionary experiences had impacted them, the group dialogued with Father Greg about how they could be more connected to one another as well as to the international Vincentian Lay Missionaries without losing their individual mission and identity. Everyone present was in agreement that an umbrella group—MISEVI USA—should be formed to solidify the connection. The group also requested that a project be piloted in Chicago to continue to keep alumni of Vincentian Lay Missionary groups in contact with each other and with those who are poor. A “think tank” of those living in the area will collaborate to design the program.

Some members of this group will attend the MISEVI General Assembly in Bogota, Columbia, in February. They will communicate with the rest of the group when they return from the experience. All will gather for another round of sharing on June 18-21 at DePaul for a young adult celebration of the 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent and St. Louise.

Father Greg will contact the two remaining Vincentian universities—Niagara and St. John—about participating in this program.