Vincentian Family in People’s Climate Change March

Sr. Julie Cutter writes of the Vincentian Family participation in the People’s Climate Change March in NYC which drew literally hundreds of thousands… “Students from St. John’s U., College of St. Elizabeth and College of Mt. St. Vincent joined members of the Sisters of Charity Federation and friends as the Vincentian Family contingent at the Peoples Climate March in New York City on Sept. 21. Groups marched across the globe to insist on action by world leaders to prevent further climate disruption. They were part of 2642 events in 162 countries! (See official video report)

The United States VinFam Social Justice representatives call each of us to action in this statement:

We, the social justice representatives of the Vincentian Family of North America, invite us all to respond to the crisis of global climate change as one of the central ethical issues of our time.

 Faithfulness to our charism challenges us:

• To efficacious compassion toward the brokenness of Earth and its life systems;
• As Vincent de Paul challenged us, to see persons living in poverty and on the margins as Christ and to understand that they suffer first from the effects of global climate change;
• To learn to discern and celebrate the presence of God in Earth;
• To evaluate our lifestyle choices;
• To integrate this heightened awareness in our consciousness, congregational documents and actions.

Congregation of the Mission, Eastern and Western Provinces	Daughters of Charity, Provinces of St. Louise and the West
Ladies of Charity USA	Sisters of Charity Federation NGO
Sisters of Charity Federation office	Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, OH
Sisters of Charity of Halifax, NS	Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, KS
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, KY	Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, SC
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, PA	Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, NJ
Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, NY	Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA
Vincentian Lay Missioners-MISEVI USA

This document was edited and approved at the social justice representative’s conference call on 9/25/2013.