The 7th Annual General Body Meeting of the Vincentian Family in India took place at St. Anne’s Generalate, Namkom, Ranchi from February 23-27. The gathering took as its theme Systemic Change – the focus of the worldwide Vincentian Family.
The following is a report by Nazareth Sister of Charity Malini Manjoly
A nine member Commission of the Vincentian Family for Systemic Change provided resources. The Commission said, “The Catholic social teachings are an essential part of our faith, in fact the best kept secret of the Church. They focus on the life and dignity of the human persons, for all are created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus.”
Works of charity and justice go hand in hand. Systemic change methodology is used to break into the cycle of poverty and remove the inevitability of remaining in poverty for generations.
Systemic change attempts to bring about a wide ranging impact on the life of people living in poverty. It is a new form of evangelization, helping people help themselves, discovering their own gifts and potentials.
Father Robert P. Maloney, of the Congregation of the Missions and the Chairperson of the Commission remarked, “Begin small; begin somewhere. Accompany the people, be with them.”
The Regional Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary, Sister Gabrielle said, “I would introduce the methodology of systemic change into our formation program in order to familiarize our young members.”
S. J. Lawrence, of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul said, “Seeds of change which Saint Vincent propagated in his life time are effective even today.”
Father Joby Kaidakalam of the Vincetian Congregation from Kerala said, “I learnt to identify the cause problem and to rectify it concretely by attending the seminar on systemic change”.
Hundred and seventeen members including the Major Superiors, Heads of Vincentian Family attended the meeting. They were Fathers of the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentian Congregation, Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Mananthavady, Kerala and Kokkar, Ranchi, Brothers of Charity, Kanke Road, Ranchi, Sisters of Charity of St. Mary, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Association of Miraculous Medal, Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the host of the meeting in Ranchi.
Father Francis Puthenthayil, CM, the National Coordinator of the Vincentian Family in India said, “Because of the importance of the topic – Systemic Change and the international resource team many attended the gathering and I would like us as a group to identify a common social evil as our goal for the coming year and attempt to eradicate it using the process of Systemic Change as one Vincentian Family in India.”
The hopes of Father Robert P. Maloney for the Vincentian Family in India is to be inventive in developing systemic change projects to stand at the side of the marginalized, being a voice for the voiceless. To engage in continued collaborative networking, building bonds both among the branches of Vincentian Family in India and with the world wide Vincentian Family.
To share our deep spirituality with the international Vincentian Family and will abound with members who combine action and contemplation and to be effective communicators of our Vincentian Charism, especially to the young. The entire program was live telecast via www.vincentianfamilyindia.org.
The Vincentian Family in India will concentrate their efforts as one Family on the ‘dignity of women’ for action and reflection during this year and build capacity to collaborate through a common formation program.
Source: Religious India
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgA7tcmFzN4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_niG_lyJWcE
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Article taken from Religiousindia – http://www.religiousindia.org
URL to article: http://www.religiousindia.org/world-of-religious/systemic-change-to-break-cycle-of-poverty
Tags: Systemic change
