Vincentians

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07-11-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
07-11-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

At a recent leadership development retreat for our national Youth, Young Adult and Emerging Leaders group, I provided a session on leadership lessons I have learned (some painfully!) over 11 years as the Society’s National CEO and more than 40 years leading mostly nonprofits.

It became apparent in our conversation that these lessons don’t benefit just young leaders, but to a great extent all leaders. Some take on Society leadership because they were good followers and workers, or because they were the first to raise their hand and volunteer. Neither of these guarantee that a person will, or won’t, lead others well. I wonder sometimes if some of our new leaders have ever led anywhere before now! So, whether you are reading this column at 16 or 60 years old, perhaps these lessons can benefit you on your own leadership learning journey. Here they are, briefly:

  1. Don’t confuse Leadership with Money or Fame. Leadership may be thankless.
  2. Anyone can be a Leader — start now! You can begin from anywhere — no excuses.
  3. Hire/recruit people smarter than you, then let them flourish. Always scout for talent.
  4. Use your entire “leadership toolbox”; apply lessons learned from anywhere and anytime.
  5. Use mentors, and then become one. No one is an island! Pay it back.
  6. Don’t let Perfect be the enemy of Good. Keep moving ahead, and adjust as you go.
  7. Always see and play the long game. Think months, even years ahead.
  8. Your job as a leader is not to Do, but to Get Things Done. (And to Keep the Group Together.)
  9. Work to be a good Follower. It helps you understand how to be a better Leader.
  10. Listen, then speak. Listen more than you speak.

I’m sure that a leadership author could write a separate book on each of the above lessons, and in some cases they probably have. I assume that Vincentians are too busy serving people to read 10 books! Therefore, please make do with just the list. You might choose just five that you need to work on to sharpen your skills. Master those, and recruit for the other five!

Here are some characteristics of Good Leaders. They:

  1. Keep learning, formally and informally. Read constantly — trends, different perspectives, etc. that may inform their work.
  2. Find ways to elevate others and help them to grow.
  3. Know a little about a lot, instead of a lot about a little.
  4. Constantly connect the dots. Everything can relate to, and possibly support, everything else if you look hard enough.

If you are the type that feels that you must read a book to learn more legitimately about leadership, here are my favorite books on the topic, all readily available and very readable:

In my upcoming retirement, maybe I’ll expound on all this with my own book. If I do, I know it will have plenty of great leadership examples from our SVDP Council and Conferences and the wonderful volunteers who step up to lead them in service to God and people in need. That should be a book worth reading!

Yours in Christ,
Dave Barringer
National CEO

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Contemplation: True Presence
Contemplation: True Presence 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development 

Vincentians are doers, we are people of action. We love God, as St. Vincent said, “with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows.” [CCD XI:32] We believe, as Frédéric did, that “religion serves best not to think, but to act.” As central as our prayer life is, our Conferences are “communities of…prayer and action.” [Rule, Part I, 3.3] And yet, as we often emphasize in our home visit training, ours is not a ministry of constant motion or problem-solving, but is instead, in its heart, a ministry of presence.

In our person-to-person service to those in need, we seek to “establish relationships based on trust and friendship.” [Rule, Part I, 1.9] We seek to be like the friends we call in our own times of distress, who come to us not to find us new jobs, or heal our sick family members, or bring the dead back to life, but to sit with us, to feel the sadness that we feel, and by sharing it, to lighten our burdens.

We are called to see the face of Christ in those we serve, but also to share Christ’s face, His love, and His presence. Just as He told us the poor would always be with us, so also He assured us that He would be with us Himself, until the end of the age, and He connected these two truths by reminding us that how we treat the poor would be judged as if done to Himself.

Our ideal is to serve the neighbor for love alone; not the love of romance, but the love of God, the love that is called charity, the love that Vincent said is “inventive to infinity.” [CCD XI:131] It was in Christ’s inventiveness, Vincent said, that He found a way, after his earthly life had ended, not to remain a carpenter, but to remain truly present to all who believe, and to all who seek Him, in the Eucharist.

The primary purpose of the Society is our own growth in holiness, and while our person-to-person service is our primary means towards this growth, our spiritual practices, like Vincent and Frédéric before us, include “devotion to the Eucharist” [Rule, Part I, 2.2] And how could it be otherwise? In the poor, as in the Eucharist, we see Christ’s true presence, and our service itself becomes sacramental.

We are called not only to stand with the poor, but on our Home Visits, to sit with them; to be present with them. It is through our presence, not simply our actions, that our Home Visits, like Eucharistic Adoration, become acts of love and devotion to God’s beloved Son.

Jesus, Son of Man, was sent by the Father to share our humanity fully, to be present with us, among us, and finally, through bread and wine, in us. To share Christ’s love as Vincentians, then, is to be truly present, going to the neighbor as Christ came to us, bringing within us Christ’s true presence through the Eucharist we have received. Ours is a ministry not only of presence, but of true presence, for on the Home Visit, as in the Eucharist, He will, as He promised, be truly present, too.

Contemplate

How can I be more present to the neighbor?

Recommended Reading

‘Tis a Gift to Be Simple

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The Home Visit: An Encounter with our Neighbor -Video-
The Home Visit: An Encounter with our Neighbor -Video- 1080 1080 SVDP USA

The Home Visit: An Encounter with our Neighbor

Hear what three Vincentians – Kat, Ray, and Tim – have to say about their experiences during a Home Visit with a neighbor, and how that has shaped their time with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Kat Brisette, SVDP Rhode Island:

Home visits are one of my favorite parts of the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul. Just being able to, you know, put yourself in an uncomfortable position, just like our neighbors are in an uncomfortable position and being able to just listen to them and talk with them. My favorite home visits are when there’s kids. Maybe it’s just because I like to fool around, and so it’s fun to interact with them. So a lot of times we’ll bring like a coloring book or things for them to play with while we’re meeting. So a lot of my favorite interactions have been, you know, when you bring the coloring book in and two siblings on the floor and they’re coloring it in while you’re talking with mom. And before they go, they put a big heart on it and give it to you. And so I have plenty of coloring pages that I have framed and I keep with me because it just reminds us of what we do and why we do it.

 

Raymond Sickingar, SVDP Rhode Island:

Years ago, my wife and I went on a Home Visit together. There’s a trailer park where we live – we deal with rural poverty where we live and sometimes that can be even more insidious than urban poverty because it’s less visible and there are less resources – but this one woman was in a trailer park, so we went and visited her and she was out of gas or propane. She also needed to rent the land that the trailer was on. So there were a few needs that she had so we were going over to talk to her. And it was a rainy night, I remember, it was raining pretty bad and we got to the door and she invited us in and we sat down. And I don’t know what made us do it that night, I’m not sure we had done it a great deal before, but we just said “What’s going on? What’s your story?” 45 minutes to an hour later, the woman stopped and took a breath.  And she said. “Oh, I feel so light,” she says. “I have not been able to tell that story to anybody.” And we helped her. We actually got her into a sustainable position, but really what she needed most was somebody to listen. And what my wife and I learned that night, was to first stop and take the time to listen. The stories are powerful, and people need to feel like they’re human.

 

Timothy Williams, SVDP USA:

One is one of the first visits my wife and I went on and it was a man who rode his bike to work every day and back 7 miles. Because he didn’t have a car but he had ten kids. There’s always more mouths than money, even with food stamps, and so he called us for help with food, it’s the end of the month. And so we come with the groceries and all these kids come tumbling out the house to help with carrying them. This one little girl grabs a gallon of milk. She turns around towards that house, and she danced back to the house – this gallon of milk. Gandhi once said there are some people so poor they can only see God in a piece of bread. But I was looking at her and the only thing I could think was “the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

 

Kat Brisette, SVDP Rhode Island:

The Society is such an awesome way that we’re able to live out our faith and be that example of what it truly means to be a Catholic and a Christian in today’s world.

 

Timothy Williams, SVDP USA:

When we go to visit the neighbors in need in their homes, we see Christ, and you really receive this Grace from God.

 

Raymond Sickingar, SVDP Rhode Island:

I found it very easy to see the face of Christ and those we serve over the years that I’ve served. But we also have to reflect that loving face back to Christ. That’s the part of that Vincentian charism, that an incredible gift of the Holy Spirit, that speaks to me most.

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John Berry: How Can We Help Families on the Brink of Homelessness?
John Berry: How Can We Help Families on the Brink of Homelessness? 1080 1080 SVDP USA

Helping families on the brink of homelessness saint vincent de paulThe Supreme Court’s ruling in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson calls fresh attention to the nation’s homelessness crisis. In its decision, released last week, the Court ruled that local ordinances with civil and criminal penalties for camping homeless on public land do not violate the Eighth Amendment’s protections from cruel and unusual punishment.

But neither the use of legal force to clear homeless encampments nor the adoption of a permissive attitude towards them will move the needle for the millions of Americans living on the brink of homelessness. If anything, viewing the issue in terms of criminality serves to obscure the underlying causes of why people become homeless.

When you see someone sleeping on a park bench or begging on the street, your mind likely gravitates towards a simple explanation: Drugs. Alcoholism. Untreated mental illness. Shiftlessness. A life of crime. The impulse is understandable. We want to make sense of the world—to be able trace effects back to commensurate causes. To reassure ourselves that nothing so terrible will ever happen to us.

But reducing homelessness to addiction and mental illness fundamentally misunderstands the problem. Yes, many of the most visibly homeless—those camped out in public—are in the throes of mental illness or substance abuse. But they aren’t representative of most people struggling to avoid homelessness today.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the charitable organization I lead, works alongside the poor and marginalized in over 1,000 cities across America. Many of the people we work with are facing eviction or have nowhere to stay. And do you know the demographic profile typical of those on the brink of homelessness?

Single-parent families. Or, more precisely, “a single custodial adult raising minor aged children.” Not a drug-crazed criminal or a shiftless welfare bum. It’s men and women trying desperately to juggle child care with keeping a roof overhead.

Many such people at risk of homelessness today would have been, in simpler times, “the working poor.” But as families and communities have broken down, the burden of providing has shifted onto frailer, lonelier shoulders. And as inflation continues to wreak havoc on families’ budgets, more and more single-parent families stand on the brink of homelessness. One car wreck, hospital stay, or layoff can dislodge a family from a home and put them out on the streets.

Now, do these people come with flaws and baggage? Of course they do! Broken relationships, trauma, illness, substance abuse—you can find the full assortment of failings, bad luck, disaster, and wounds. But recognizing sources of suffering doesn’t allow us to sweep it dismissively under the rug.

Consider two examples drawn from homelessness prevention programs in mid-sized U.S. cities.

Eric heads a family of five, whose lives were upended when their landlord told them he “wanted to move in a different direction” and gave them 30 days to move out. In a hot real estate market, Eric couldn’t find a new place quickly enough. So his family started bouncing between hotels and sleeping in his truck, trying to make it through while saving enough for a security deposit on a new home.

Elena is 29 years old, the single mother of an eight-year-old son. Both her parents were addicts, and she’s struggled her whole life with severe ADHD and anxiety. The father of her son is abusive, and Elena’s landlord refused to renew her lease after she called the police during an incident when the father attacked and beat her. When she was hospitalized with heart troubles shortly thereafter, she lost her job, too.

The stakes are incredibly high for families like Elena’s and Eric’s. Studies show that living unhoused or at risk of homelessness leads to heightened levels of stress, hunger, sleeplessness, lack of safety, and illness. For children, it means delayed early development, reduced school attendance, and increased risks of behavioral, academic, or psychiatric disorders.

In short, “brink of homelessness” is a recipe for long-term, multi-generational disaster. That’s why homelessness prevention programs are such a good long-term investment for communities to make.

When you work with the unhoused, you quickly realize that there are a million different paths to becoming homeless—and thus no ready-made solution for it. “Tough love” or more stringent law-and-order policies aren’t what most of these families need.

Nor is it sufficient to just place homeless or at-risk families in new housing. Families like Elena’s and Eric’s need support as well as a roof overhead. That support can include everything from assistance with transportation and child care to job searches, mental health counseling, financial literacy, parenting skills, addiction recovery, and health care.

Homelessness prevention programs can succeed insofar as they are personal and flexible. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for single parents or grandparents struggling to stay afloat when a crisis hits. They might need help finding a job or repairing a car. They might need child care or a trip to the doctor’s office. They might need help paying a utility bill or working with a landlord to keep eviction off the table.

But solutions can be found. And they save lives. But we must look through a lens of compassion, not criminalization, to see what’s possible—and to see who most needs our help in avoiding homelessness today.

 

Read John’s original piece in Newsweek.

John Berry is the President of the National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul—a 90,000 member faith-based volunteer organization that provides support to people in need at over 4,000 locations in the United States. 

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Why Am I a Vincentian? -Video-
Why Am I a Vincentian? -Video- 1080 1080 SVDP USA

Why Am I a Vincentian?

Hear what three Vincentians – Mike, Pamela, and Marge – have to say about why they joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Marge McGinlly, Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Mt. Holly, New Jersey:

It’s fun. It’s a lot of fun, yes.

 

Mike Flynn, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Seattle:

What happened to me was I went to a ministry fair in our parish. I thought it was going to be doing Liturgy and this guy captured me and said you need to become a Vincentian. I said, what is that? He said, well, we help people, and I thought I’d like to help people. And so I went to a meeting and discovered how much more it meant to be a Vincentian than just helping people.

 

Pamela Matambanadzo, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago:

Why do you keep coming back? What brought you here? And I think for me… we talk about service, we talk about spirituality and we talk about friendship. And it’s just the enrichment of all of those on the people you meet. You know the relationships you build. Just being able to serve, you know whether you’re at a soup kitchen or whether you’re at a home visit.

 

Marge McGinlly, Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Mt. Holly, New Jersey:

I’m a Vincentian because when I found the Vincentian family it spoke to my heart. It was a place where I fit. I have this love of people, especially the poor and the sick. And when I found the Vincentian charism it fit who God made me. So it was like finding a second family for me.

 

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07-03-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
07-03-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

As we gather to celebrate the 4th of July, our nation’s Independence Day, we are reminded of the founding principles that have shaped our country: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These ideals, deeply embedded in the fabric of our society, are not just lofty aspirations, but calls to action that resonate profoundly with the work and mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. As volunteers, our tireless efforts to serve those in need reflect these principles in their most tangible and compassionate forms. Today, let us explore how our efforts embody these values and why they are essential as we work to uplift and support our community.

Life

The right to life is fundamental, and it encompasses more than mere existence. It speaks to the dignity and sanctity of every human being. In the words of St. Vincent de Paul, “Charity is the cement which binds communities to God and persons to one another.” Our commitment to providing food, shelter, medical care, and spiritual and emotional support ensures that those we serve can live with dignity and hope. Each meal served, each bed provided, and each listening ear offered is a testament to the value of every life.

Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, once said, “The poor are your masters. You are the servant.” This profound statement reminds us that our work is not merely charity but a recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of those we assist. By seeing Christ in those we serve, we affirm their right to a life of dignity and respect.

Liberty

Liberty, the second pillar of our national ethos, is not just about political freedom but the liberation from all forms of oppression and poverty. True freedom involves the ability to make choices, to have opportunities, and to live without fear or want. The services provided by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — ranging from job training and education to financial assistance — are crucial in empowering individuals to break free from the chains of poverty and dependency.

St. Vincent de Paul said, “Go to the poor: you will find God.” This call urges us to see our work not just as aid, but as a partnership in creating freedom for those we serve. By providing resources and support, we help those in need to reclaim their independence and autonomy. It is through this empowerment that we honor the spirit of liberty, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to forge their own path and achieve their full potential.

The Pursuit of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness, a cornerstone of the American dream, is a universal aspiration. It is the desire for a life filled with joy, purpose, and fulfillment. For many of the individuals and families we serve, happiness can seem elusive amidst the struggles of daily life. However, our compassionate service creates a ripple effect that can transform lives and communities.

Blessed Frédéric Ozanam believed deeply in the power of compassion to bring about social change. He once stated, “The knowledge of social well-being and reform is learned, not from books, nor from the public platform, but in climbing the stairs to the poor man’s garret, sitting by his bedside, feeling the same cold that pierces him, sharing the secret of his lonely heart and troubled mind.” This intimate encounter with those we serve fosters a sense of community and belonging, essential ingredients in the pursuit of happiness.

By addressing both immediate needs and systemic issues, we help create an environment where individuals can thrive. Whether it is through our encounters with neighbors in need, advocating for social justice, or simply offering a smile and a kind word, our efforts contribute to a society where happiness is within reach for all.

As we celebrate this Independence Day, let us remember that the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not just historical ideals but living commitments. Our dedication to the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a powerful expression of these values. In our hands, in your hands, the promise of our nation comes alive, bringing hope, freedom, and joy to those who need it most.

St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frédéric Ozanam have given us a rich legacy of service and compassion. Their words and deeds continue to inspire us as we work towards a more just and loving world. This 4th of July, as fireworks light up the sky, let us also light up the lives of those we serve, carrying forward the timeless principles that make our nation great.

May God continue to Bless you for your unwavering commitment and for embodying the true spirit of Independence Day. Through your work, you ensure that the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not just celebrated but lived every day.

Happy 4th of July!

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

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Contemplation: To Wait for God’s Own Time
Contemplation: To Wait for God’s Own Time 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development 

The church calls the laity to “fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization” which has “peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world.” [CCC, 905] Our Vincentian vocation, our special way of living our faith, also defines our special way of evangelizing.

And what is that way? It is plainly true that our visits to the neighbor, particularly the first visit, are not an appropriate time to evangelize by word. The neighbor is in a very vulnerable position, and while likely to listen very politely to what we say, they are equally likely to resent that we have made them feel, despite our best intentions, that coming to Mass may be the price of our assistance.

As the first Rule put it, “All fervor is not holy or accepted of God. All times are not suitable for instilling new and Christian teaching into the heart. We must know how to wait for God’s own time, and to be patient as He is.” [1835 Rule, Intro] We evangelize first and foremost not by preaching, but by the witness of our actions; by our selfless works, performed for love alone.

Blessed Frédéric made this same point, explaining that while we hope to share the saving word of Christ with the poor, “the poor are hungry, so we must first give them bread.” [1457, Report, 1834] Saint Vincent similarly advised his missioners (whose mission was to evangelize) to “be more reserved in their presence, more humble and devout toward God, and more charitable toward your neighbor so that they may see the beauty and holiness of our religion and be moved to return to it.” [CCD VIII:208]

Naturally, we do not hide who we are or why we are visiting, and one of the ways we bear witness to our faith is to pray to God for the neighbor. That is why it will often be the case that as we form relationships based on trust and friendship, it will be the neighbor that starts the conversation about our faith, precisely because our charity, our love, has stirred “irresistible questions” in their hearts. [EN, 21]

Though most of our visits begin and end with material assistance, we are never simply bearers of bread, because, as Frédéric reminds us, “Charity does not consist so much in the distributing of bread as in the manner it is distributed.” [1457, Report, 1834] We seek first to attain holiness, for without that how can we lead others to it? We pray that our kindness, friendship, and love will transform the hearts of the neighbors we serve, just as their suffering transforms ours.

In our annual reports, we record the assistance our Conferences provide. We hold in our hearts the memory of tears we have dried and hope we have shared. But we will never know how many souls our works may have saved. That is up to God, not us, and “We are not commissioned to perform the good which it is out of our power to effect.” [1835 Rule, Intro]

Contemplate

Is my zeal for the salvation of souls tempered by my humility and faith that God is working through me?

Recommended Reading

This week, let’s watch a video about Our Vincentian Virtue of Zeal

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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Grant’s Pass Vs. Gloria Johnson
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Grant’s Pass Vs. Gloria Johnson 552 552 SVDP USA

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul expresses concern regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. By ruling in favor of the plaintiff, the Supreme Court has signaled that local governments can make it a crime for someone to live outside and unsheltered if they have no home.

“Reasonable people may and will disagree about this decision, but the fact of the matter is it doesn’t get to the heart of the homelessness crisis,” said John Berry, National President at Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “Neither stricter nor more lenient criminal laws sufficiently address the problem — which has vastly more to do with skyrocketing housing costs and inflation than it has to do with how local governments regulate homeless encampments.”

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul currently maintains a network for homeless prevention through rent assistance with an outlay of over $60 million. These programs typically involve home visits, personalized resources, engagement with landlords, crafting a “Stability Plan,” and financial assistance in making rent and paying utilities. These programs usually work alongside local governments, putting homelessness prevention ahead of policing in addressing the roots of homelessness.

“These temporary assistance programs work — and produce long-lasting effects while reducing the economic and social strain of homelessness on cities, towns, and counties,” said Berry. “But more than dollars, homelessness prevention programs like ours save lives and dignity. While City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson helps call attention to the severity of our homelessness crisis, we must work together to restore stability and dignity to neighbors living on the edge of homelessness.”

According to a recent study conducted by Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), persons who received an average of $2,000 in emergency financial assistance were “81 percent less likely to become homeless within six months of enrollment and 73 percent less likely within 12 months.” In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul will continue unabated to pursue positive outcomes like these across the country.

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06-27-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
06-27-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Embracing Growth

When I was in my late 20’s, and going through a tough time, I remember my Mom telling me “you need to go see a Priest!”

Growing up as the 5th of 7 kids in an Irish Catholic home in Pittsburgh, there is one important thing learned at an early age: Listen to Mom. Without questioning it, I did listen, and that ultimately lead me to a blessing I could have never imagined — life as a Vincentian.

Over the past 25 years, God has provided so much in my life. A loving, beautiful, intelligent wife, two awesome daughters, a successful entrepreneurial career in technology, and a passion for serving the poor. I am blessed in so many ways, and the Society is a huge part of that because it has enabled me to connect with God and orient my life to His will (most of the time!). I often wonder where I would be today had I ignored Mom and not found the Society.

I bring my story forward not because it is unique. I dare say that everyone of us has a similar story of how we found St. Vincent de Paul. Or rather, as Jesus tells us, we did not find or choose the Society: He chose it for each one of us. And, He chooses it for so many more. My SVdP story, and probably yours, has common attributes of being open, wanting to learn more and have a deeper connection with God and our Catholic faith, a great Priest, an invitation, and the nicest group of men and women I had ever come across.

Today, we stand at a crossroads. We see our Catholic Church shrinking in so many parts of the world, including our great country. We also see decreasing numbers in our Vincentian membership. Perhaps you and I can be a spark to help turn these trends around. Going back to our own unique stories, so many of our family members, friends, and connections are searching for a stronger meaning in life. While many are falling away from the Church, they are looking for a deeper connection to God. And we know the beauty of the Society is that it brings us closer through our encounters with Jesus in every neighbor we serve, and every gathering we participate in.

There is a phrase in business that if you are not growing, you are dying. I also love the quote from the movie Shawshank Redemption: “Get busy living or get busy dying.” We owe it to St. Vincent de Paul, Frédéric Ozanam, and the thousands of Vincentians who have followed to grow our Society. Each of us has been blessed, and we, in turn, need to pay it forward. If it is not already, let’s make growth a core part of every Conference. Let’s be open to and invite our Catholic brothers and sisters to join us. Let’s form strong friendships and partnerships with our Priests and Deacons, and ask for their help by directing parishioners our way. Let’s be bold in our vision for the future and why Jesus has placed us in the Society. Let’s be like my Mom and tell those we love to “Go see a Priest”— and let’s experience growth!

Yours in Christ,
Sean Myers
National Vice President of Membership and Leadership Development

 

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Contemplation: The Challenge of Modern Times
Contemplation: The Challenge of Modern Times 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation & Leadership Development

Blessed Frédéric and his friends founded the Society in 1833 in answer to a challenge posed to them by another group of students in a discussion group called the Conference of History. The other students, adherents to San Simonianism, a form of utopian socialism, believed the church’s day had come and gone, and that poverty and other social problems could be best addressed with modern, scientific methods. Yet their challenge to Frédéric was not a challenge to show how much bread or firewood could be distributed, or how many poor families could be assisted. Their challenge was simpler, but more difficult. “Show us,” they demanded, “the good of the church in the modern world.”

To show the good of the church remains our core mission, our evangelical mission, and the good of the church is the same as ever: to bring all people to eternal life in union with a loving God. And so Frédéric and his friends could see no better way to answer the challenge, no better way to demonstrate the good of the church than to “do what Our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go,” Frédéric declared, “to the poor.” [Baunard, 65]

Since the beginning of time, God has loved us, awaited us, and answered our calls, but for one moment in human history, He put on the cloak of humanity and came to us. He visited us, walked among us, shared our pains and our burdens, and called us friend; He came not to be served but to serve.

Our primary purpose is to grow in holiness. This is the good of the church. Our secondary purpose is to share Christ’s love with the neighbor. This, too, is the good of the church. The good of the church was shown to us by our Heavenly father, who so loved the world that He sent His only Son to establish His church. And because “love is inventive to infinity” He further found a way to remain in our presence in the Eucharist. [CCD XI:129]; to be present, to act for love alone, as our Rule calls us to do. [Rule Part I, 2.2]

The good of the church is first to lead us to Christ. We do not summon Him to us. Rather, we seek Him exactly where he tells us He will be found: in the hungry, in the thirsty, in the naked, the prisoner, the stranger, the poor. We seek out and find Him in the poor. [Rule, Part I, 1.5]

By coming to us, in person, God established His church and all its goodness in the world. He went to the poor, He went to the hungry, He even went to the sinners, sinners that many others of the day thought were undeserving. Vincentians seek both to encounter and to imitate Christ. We go to the poor, not because it is efficient, not because it is modern. It was neither of those things in 1833, nor even in 30 AD. We go to the poor to bring Christ’s love, and to share the hope of the living Word.

This was and remains the good of the church, and the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Contemplate

How can I better show the good of Christ’s church in the modern world?

Recommended Reading

500 Little Prayers for Vincentians

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