Vision Svdp

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05-22-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
05-22-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Embracing the Call to Servant Leadership

With just over four months left in our fiscal year, many presidents are approaching the end of their terms. Some feel relieved and are looking forward to transitioning into a mentoring role. For others, however, it brings mounting anxiety as they struggle to find someone willing to step into the role. My sense is that many fall into the latter group.

So, what exactly is a Servant Leader, and why is it often so difficult to find Vincentians willing to embrace this role?

When we think of the ultimate Servant Leader, we naturally look to Jesus. His entire ministry was centered around serving others. He led not by authority or position, but through humility and compassion. His words in Mark 10:45 remind us:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In more recent times we first find the term servant leadership in an essay, titled “The Servant as Leader,” first published in 1970 by Robert K. Greenleaf. Greenleaf emphasized that the core of true leadership is a commitment to serve first—and lead second.

By that definition, every Vincentian is a servant leader. Our very mission is to serve those in need with love, respect, and humility. And yet when it comes to taking on leadership roles—especially as president—there is often hesitation. Why is that? Why does the idea of leadership feel intimidating or burdensome, rather than an extension of our Vincentian calling?

Here are some common reasons Vincentians give for not stepping into leadership roles:

  • “I don’t have the time.”
  • “I don’t have the skills to be president.”
  • “I can’t add another meeting to my schedule.”

These concerns are understandable—but they don’t tell the whole story. Many Vincentians already manage busy schedules, attend various meetings, and juggle other commitments. What’s truly needed in a Servant Leader is not a résumé full of technical skills, but a caring heart, a love for the Society, and the ability to inspire and support others.

You don’t have to be an accountant or a corporate executive to serve as president. What you do need is the wisdom to recognize and empower the gifts of others within your conference or council. A good Servant Leader builds a team, draws on the talents of members, and fosters spiritual growth.

Reflecting on my own journey, I’ve been shaped and encouraged by other Vincentians who saw leadership potential in me long before I recognized it in myself. When I had an idea, they encouraged me to pursue it. When I initially declined a council board position due to my work schedule—before the days of Zoom—a leader found another way for me to serve, using my teaching skills to benefit member formation. That encouragement and guidance eventually led me to embrace my own role in Servant Leadership for the West Region.

Here’s what I’ve learned: A Servant Leader doesn’t need to have all the answers or do everything alone. They simply need to be willing to see others—to listen, to guide, to invite, and to trust. Much like our home visits with neighbors in need, the president’s role is rooted in relationship and empathy. Just as we leave those neighbor visits with full hearts, so too does the Servant Leader find deep fulfillment in watching fellow Vincentians grow and thrive in their vocation.

As a leader, I stay connected with members through calls, emails, Zoom, and in-person meetings. These moments aren’t obligations—they are opportunities. I am consistently filled with gratitude for the love and dedication of our members. In sharing what I’ve learned and listening to their challenges, I see God’s hand at work in our Society.

And I never walk this path alone—none of us do. Every conference and council president has support: from their fellow officers, from regional and national leaders, and from the wider Vincentian family. We are One Society. Just as we serve the poor together, we also support one another.

Servant Leadership has been a blessing in my life—deepening my faith, broadening my perspective, and bringing countless moments of grace. My prayer is that you will see this role not as a burden, but as a calling. If you’re asked to serve, take it to prayer. Trust that God sees something in you that you may not yet see in yourself.

Will you consider saying “yes”?

Let your answer be guided by the Holy Spirit, grounded in love for the Society, and open to the joy that comes from serving others.

Judy Dietlein
National Vice President, West Region

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05-15-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
05-15-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

I have been reading Victor Gaetan’s book ‘God’s Diplomats: Pope Francis, Vatican Diplomacy, and America’s Armageddon.’ It is a fascinating and highly readable exploration of the Catholic Church’s evolving approach to global conflict resolution and peace building, emphasizing the Church’s shift from the “just war” tradition to a “just peace” framework rooted in dialogue, impartiality, and long-term relational engagement. Central to this transformation is the Church’s commitment to advocacy as a proactive, faith-driven pursuit of justice that transcends partisan politics and prioritizes the marginalized.

The book tells the story of how the Vatican’s diplomatic corps operates on principles that defy convention. Unlike nations that leverage military or economic power, the Church’s advocacy is grounded in neutrality, humility, and grassroots engagement. Key rules include avoiding “winners and losers,” remaining impartial, and “walking the talk” through charitable acts. For instance, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Pope John XXIII’s discreet diplomacy helped de-escalate tensions by appealing to shared humanity rather than partisan interests. Similarly, in Colombia, local Catholic peacebuilders demonstrated how sustained, community-driven advocacy can counter cycles of violence.

Right about now you are probably saying “OK, John, that’s nice, but this isn’t a book club. What’s your point and why should I care?”

Fair question!

I think that we learn every day from observing others. And the insights and lessons in this book are things that relate to our work as Vincentians. They help us understand that we are not just transactional check writers and one-off suppliers of aid and support to people in need.

The approach that underlies the Vatican’s diplomatic work reflects a broader theological vision that we should understand and seek to mirror: the Church’s role as a “field hospital” (a metaphor often used by Pope Francis) that heals wounds without judgment. By prioritizing relationships over transactional victories, Vatican diplomats model a form of advocacy that aligns with Christ’s call to “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and seek peace through understanding.

The Church’s diplomatic ethos finds practical expression in Catholic nonprofits like St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and others who blend direct service with systemic advocacy. Our work in advocacy must be as integral a part of who and what we are as our direct service to the people in need who come to us.

Further, our focus on advocacy must be to “Influence decision-making to promote justice and solidarity, emphasizing policy changes that address root causes of poverty.” This mirrors the Vatican’s long-term, dialogue-focused strategies.

An area where SVdP has always advocated and continues to advocate locally and nationally is economic justice. This includes affordable housing and just wages, reflecting Pope Leo XIII’s defense of workers’ rights in Rerum Novarum (1891), which condemned exploitation and called for equitable labor practices. And he further insisted that governments must prioritize the vulnerable, asserting that “the rich must religiously refrain from cutting down the workmen’s earnings” through unfair policies.

Advocacy for the poor is not optional in Catholic teaching; it is a requirement of faith. Jesus’s proclamation to “bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18) and His identification with the marginalized (“Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me,” Matthew 25:40) form the bedrock of this mission.

The teachings of our faith have continued from Luke through the ages and is reflected in many of the recent Papal teachings from Pope Leo the XIII to Pope Francis (and I am sure will continue under Pope Leo XIV). Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, said “There is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor.” He condemned an “economy of exclusion” and urged believers to “lend a ready hand” to dismantle systemic injustice.

Pope St. John Paul II highlighted the “preferential option for the poor” as non-negotiable, urging Catholics to “discern the justice of the poor’s requests and help satisfy them.”

In the book, Gaetan acknowledges that Church diplomacy is not without failures, such as divisions in Kenya where ethnic rivalries fractured local Catholic communities. Similarly, nonprofits like SVDP face hurdles like political polarization and resource constraints. Yet, the Church’s emphasis on patient dialogue and grassroots empowerment offers a model that rejects short-term, partisan solutions. So too, must we focus our advocacy efforts on experience-based, story-driven, real-world examples about the people we serve so as to help drive change through dialogue.

It is vital that we, both nationally and locally, increase our involvement in advocacy for the poor and marginalized because, as the Church’s diplomatic model demonstrates, real, lasting change for the vulnerable comes through sustained, humble engagement and a “culture of encounter.” Vatican diplomacy is effective precisely because it avoids partisanship, seeks common ground, and prioritizes the dignity, power, and resources of those most affected by conflict and poverty. This approach is not only a diplomatic strategy but a moral imperative that should inspire us to move beyond charity alone and engage in advocacy that addresses systemic injustices.

God’s Diplomats provides a guide to how the Church and SVdP USA can use advocacy not as a political tactic but as a sacrament of solidarity. By marrying spiritual principles with pragmatic action, the Vatican and Catholic nonprofits like us embody a vision of justice that transcends borders. As Pope Francis reminded us, “Mere condemnation is not enough; we must act.” In a world fractured by inequality and conflict, this call to advocacy, rooted in the Gospel and refined by centuries of social teaching, remains as urgent as ever.

The synergy between Vatican diplomacy and grassroots nonprofits underscores a timeless truth: defending the marginalized is not just a policy preference but a divine mandate. Whether brokering peace between superpowers or lobbying for affordable housing, the Church’s mission remains the same: to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

 

Peace and God’s blessings,

John

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04-24-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
04-24-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

A Shepherd to the Poor: Remembering Pope Francis

In the passing of Pope Francis, the world has lost not only the Bishop of Rome but a tireless voice for the voiceless, a prophet of mercy, and a shepherd whose heart beat in time with the most forgotten of God’s children. For those of us who have dedicated our lives to serving the poor and marginalized through our vocation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, his life was a living gospel—both a challenge and a consolation.

From the moment he stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2013 and simply bowed his head, asking the people for their blessing before offering his own, it was clear we had a different kind of pope. He took the name “Francis,” after the humble saint of Assisi, and like that saint, he walked a path of radical simplicity, compassion, and solidarity with the poor.

He reminded us time and again that the Christian faith is not an abstraction. It is not a comfortable theory. It is a call to action — a call to love. And not the easy kind of love that stays within the boundaries of polite society, but the kind of love that stoops down to wash the feet of the homeless, that listens to the cries of the refugee, that welcomes the addict, the broken, the excluded.

In his World Day of the Poor messages, Pope Francis poured out his heart to those on the margins, and to those who serve them. In 2021, he wrote, “The poor, always and everywhere, evangelize us, because they enable us to discover in new ways the true face of the Father.” For those of us in this mission, we know the truth of those words. We have encountered Christ in the trembling hands of the hungry, in the eyes of a woman fleeing abuse, in the fragile hope of someone who has lost everything but still believes in grace.

Pope Francis was not content to merely speak about the poor — he went to them. He visited hospitals, refugee camps, prisons, and homeless shelters. He embraced lepers, kissed the feet of migrants, dined with the homeless. His actions said loudly what his words reinforced: “We are called to discover Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them.” (World Day of the Poor, 2017)

Francis taught that charity is not simply about giving — it is about relationship. About drawing near. About breaking down the barriers that divide “us” and “them.” He wrote, “The poor are not people ‘outside’ our communities, but brothers and sisters whose sufferings we should share, in an effort to alleviate their difficulties and marginalization.” (World Day of the Poor, 2020) That vision transformed the Church. It transformed each of us.

Many of us who serve, in our encounters at people’s homes, at shelters, at food pantries, and at recovery programs, saw in Pope Francis the embodiment of what we hope to be. His humility did not diminish his authority — it deepened it. His tenderness did not weaken his leadership — it defined it. He reminded us that the Church is most fully herself not when she stands in splendor, but when she kneels beside the wounded.

We loved Pope Francis not because he made our work easier, but because he made it holier. He called us to more. To see our volunteerism not as a duty, but as a Eucharistic act—a way of becoming bread broken and shared for others. He saw the poor not as a problem to solve, but as people to love. And he called on the whole Church to “go out to the peripheries,” where, he reminded us, Christ Himself is waiting.

In 2023, he wrote: “Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated.” He never let us off the hook. And thank God he didn’t. Because of him, countless hearts were lit with a fire of compassion, and many who once looked away from the poor began to look into their eyes—and see Christ.

Now, as we mourn him, we also thank God for the gift of his life. We thank God for the man who reminded us that the smell of the sheep is a sweet fragrance to the Good Shepherd. That mercy is the greatest expression of justice. That to serve the poor is not just a noble option—it is the heart of the Gospel.

1 John says, “Let us love, not with words but with deeds.” And oh how he lived that love every day of his papacy. He loved with his presence, with his simplicity, with his unwavering focus on those the world forgets.

For those of us in the trenches of mercy, in the homes of those in need, in the food lines and the shelter dormitories, in the hospital rooms and dining rooms, we carry his legacy forward. We will go on loving, not with words, but with deeds. We will go on seeing Christ in the poor, and we will go on knowing that Pope Francis is still praying for us — from the heavenly peripheries — still urging us to keep walking, keep loving, keep serving.

May his memory bless the Church. May his vision animate our mission. And may we, like him, choose every day to live a faith that comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable — until every tear is wiped away, and the poor are poor no more.

Peace and God’s blessings,

John

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04-17-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
04-17-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

VisionSVdP Phase III

In today’s Frédéric’s Five, you will find links to all the data from the VisionSVdP Listening Sessions held in 2024. There is a lot of data in there — and a lot of information to look over and read. It is fascinating to see the comments from Vincentians from all over the country about their thoughts, feelings, and ideas regarding the future of SVdP USA! I urge you to jump in and look through the comments of your brother and sister Vincentians.

As we have begun a preliminary analysis of the comments, there have been some emerging themes that have been identified.  These include:

  • Advocacy & Social Justice
  • Collaboration & Partnership
  • Communication & Outreach
  • Home Visit & Service Delivery
  • Membership & Recruitment
  • Organizational Structure & Governance
  • Resource Allocation & Fundraising
  • Special Works
  • Spirituality & Core Values
  • Technology Adoption
  • Training & Formation

Of these Emerging themes, the Top 5 that had comments associated with them were:

  • Home Visit & Service Delivery
  • Spirituality & Core Values
  • Membership & Recruitment
  • Organizational Structure & Governance
  • Communication & Outreach

We will be addressing these five areas in Phase III of VisionSVdP. However, there are many themes not in the top five that can easily be considered ‘subcategories’ of those five. For example, Technology Adoption is a prime candidate as a subcategory of both Organizational Structure & Governance and of Communication & Outreach. So all of the common themes are going to be addressed, as well as all other comments, in one way or another.

So, where do we go from here?

Beginning June 1, Working Groups will form at the Conference and/or Council level to begin discussion, developing suggested actions and recommendations for a specific subject. Each Working Group will focus on ONE THEME from the five above.

Instructions and materials for the Working Groups will be sent out in mid-May.

Approximately September 1, all Working Group recommendations will be sent to the highest-level Council (the Council represented by a National Council Member [NCM]).

The Council will create a Working Group that will take up all submitted recommendations and create one Council Report of Recommendations and Actions for each of the five themes above. This needs to be completed by December 1, 2025.

The Council will then elect two Delegates to the National VisionSVdP Congress, to be held in the first Quarter of 2026. These Delegates cannot be the NCM, and one Delegate should hold no Office at the Council or Conference level if possible.

All expenses for the Congress will be paid by the National Council. The Congress is anticipated to be three days of intensive work and will develop a final set of recommendations and actions.

Have a Blessed Easter.

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

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02-20-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
02-20-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

VisionSVdP — What’s Next?

You might be wondering what happened to VisionSVdP. There was a lot of activity and hoopla around it for much of 2024, but recently, things have been pretty quiet, right? Well, I’m going to update you where we are, where we’re going, and make you a promise — it’s not going to be quiet for very long.

Let me start by saying that Phase I of VisionSVdP was a grand slam home run success! We had an incredible outpouring of thoughts and ideas and comments from across the country. From small Conferences to large Councils, people participated and were excited to share their thoughts about the Society. It was great to see.

And from that, we received a lot of comments. I mean a lot of comments! So a good deal of time has been spent entering them into our database at the National Office. Comments are being entered as written, with no editing. Once that is completed later this month, the data gurus will start to “do that voodoo that they do” so well. (Bonus points if you can name the movie that line came from!) They will sort, categorize, rank order, and do all kinds of other things with the data.

At the Midyear Meeting the first week in March, I will present an overview of what we heard. You will get that overview both by email and in Frédéric’s Five. You will also receive a link so you can look at every single comment made — unfiltered, unedited.

Then the fun starts. We’re going to look at everything and see what jumps out at us. What did a lot of people comment about? What did they think we really needed to fix, to add, to subtract, to change, to enhance? What did the thousands of Vincentian voices of SVdP USA have to say?

And then we’ll choose a manageable number of themes and get down to work. Or I should say…you will get down to work. Because you are going to tell us what we need to do.

We’ll identify the areas — for example, let’s say there are seven of them. Then we’ll create working groups — all over. At Conferences, at Councils, at Special Works…wherever it makes sense, and wherever a group of Vincentians wants to work on the subject. And you can volunteer for the group that is tackling the subject for which you have the greatest passion or interest. You can even join two if you want! (But the cutoff is two working groups per person.)

The working groups will meet as often as they feel is necessary, and then in late Fall, we will ask ALL Councils to hold a one- or two-day gathering to bring all these working groups together and develop a set of Recommendations for Action.

At that time, Councils will also elect two representatives (who CANNOT be the Council President) to represent the Council at a National Congress to be held in January 2026.

At that National Congress, the elected representatives will spend three days developing a National VisionSVdP Action Plan, which will provide us with specific plans for implementing what has come out of VisionSVdP.

There will be a lot more detail as we get further along, but that’s how it will work. It’s going to be a blast!

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

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11-14-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
11-14-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Thankful for You!

As Thanksgiving approaches, our Vincentian family has so much to be thankful for. This time of thankfulness is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to do an inventory of the blessings in our lives. Recognizing all of our blessings assures us of God’s love for ourselves and the important work we do in serving those in need.

As your new CEO, I have been blessed with the opportunity to witness our Vincentian family in action around the country. I have seen our members putting their faith and love into action in an extraordinary way.

This week, Vincentians from around the nation gathered in St. Louis for our Invitation for Renewal leadership retreat. When the retreat kicked off, I visited with attendees and saw the Vincentian spirit of friendship with a rich desire to grow and spread the charism of the Society throughout our great country.

In last week’s e-Gazette, John Berry reminded all of us of the importance of everyone taking part in Vision SVdP. Again, this year his invitation to us has been to participate in a “A conversation guided by, blessed by, and driven by God through the Holy Spirit.”

Next year, we will celebrate the 180th anniversary of our Society in the United States. The ongoing national conversation will fuel our adaptation to the ever-changing world we live in.

In 20 years, at our 200th anniversary celebration, it is our hope that our Society’s leaders will look back at 2025 as the year we ignited our organizational rocket engines and propelled our Vincentian efforts to a whole new level, built on all the wisdom you have shared with our National Council through Vision SVdP.

As Thanksgiving draws near, Vincentians around the country are responding to need in many ways that prevent homelessness and unnecessary suffering. We are bringing food boxes filled with Thanksgiving meals to those who suffer from food insecurity, serving hot meals to those in need, making Home Visits to those who may be facing eviction, and providing countless other services. Last year, our Society responded to need by providing over $1.7 billion in services to those who desperately needed to feel God’s love through us.

We continue to see the need growing throughout the country, and we expect the higher demand to continue in 2025.

Those we serve need the bright light of hope and compassion, and that is what we are giving every time we have the blessing of an encounter where we provide food, clothing, rent, prescription assistance, or other critical help. We are showing that everyone we serve is important to us, and we care about them.

Every time you help someone in need, you are following your heart, and we are so thankful for every Vincentian and supporter of our Society.

During these tough economic times, we appreciate your support more than ever. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for all you do. May God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving and may the blessings you share with others come back to you a thousand times over.

At this special time of year, we should remember we are One Society, and together pray for the continued success of your Conference, your local Council, and our National Council!

Best wishes in Christ,
Michael J. Acaldo
National CEO

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

The other day, I was speaking to one of our Vincentians and she asked me, “Hey, what ever happened to VisionSVdP?” I must say I was a little taken aback by the question, and I asked her why she was asking. I told her that VisionSVdP was going full speed ahead and that we were in the final two months of Phase I, with many local Conferences and Councils holding listening sessions (as a matter of fact, my own Conference just held our listening session at the end of October). She said, “OK, but you haven’t been saying much about it lately. Maybe it’s time for an update?” Great idea! So, here we are.

Over the last year, you have heard and read about VisionSVdP, our “family conversation” that we are using to answer the call in our Rule to ‘Adapt to a Changing World.’ I first spoke about this after my Installation as National President in St. Louis in October 2023, and I have written about it often in the e-Gazette Servant Leader column and other places. We officially kicked off VisionSVdP at the 2024 Midyear Meeting, and since that time, we have held literally hundreds of listening sessions at Regional meetings, Council meetings, Conference meetings, and the National Assembly in Phoenix.

In case you are new to the Society, or you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last year (only kidding), you might be asking, “What is this VisionSVdP he is talking about?” Let me start by telling you what it is NOT: It’s not a program, it’s not a strategic planning process, it’s not a reorganization, it’s not a fundraising campaign, it’s not a make-work effort for already burdened Vincentians trying to serve people in need.

Well then, WHAT IS IT? you ask. Well, it’s a conversation. A Synodal (from the Greek for “journeying together”) conversation about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. What’s good about it? What’s not so good about it? What are we doing right? What might we be doing better? What are we doing that we don’t need to be doing? What aren’t we doing that we should be doing? What’s enriching your spiritual life as a Vincentian? What’s stressing your spiritual life as a Vincentian? Why are we getting older and greyer, even though we are trying to bring young people into our membership? Why can’t we move the needle on increasing diversity despite years of trying? Why are we still using pen and paper to complete casework forms when our grandkids are using tablets to do their homework in first grade?

Get it? A conversation guided by, blessed by, and driven by God through the Holy Spirit.

The next question on your mind is probably, “Why are we doing this?”

There are a lot of reasons! As I mentioned above, The Rule, written in 1836, call us to periodically ‘Adapt to a Changing World.’ In Part I, 1.6 The Rule says: “Faithful to the spirit of its founders, the Society constantly strives for renewal, adapting to changing world conditions. It seeks to be aware of the changes that occur in human society and the new types of poverty that may be identified or anticipated. It gives priority to the poorest of the poor and to those who are most rejected by society.”

The last few decades have brought changing conditions in the U.S. and around the world that demand we look at how we must adapt and renew. Those changes were accelerated and exacerbated by the pandemic and the economic challenges faced here and abroad. We must look at the Society in the light of the realities of today and tomorrow, and we must change where change is called for.

So, for the last eight months we have been talking, listening, and through it all, respecting every person’s views. That is Phase I, which will end December 31. If your Conference or Council has NOT held a Listening Session yet — you need to. Because EVERY VOICE MATTERS and we want to hear from you!

If you need help getting started, contact Jill Pioter at the National Council and she’ll get you everything you need.

Phase II begins next year. It’s the hardest and most complicated part. Because that’s when we start going through the thousands of comments we’ve received, then work on planning how we move forward. We are going to talk for a LONG TIME. We are going to talk about that planning for another year at least at every level in the Society — because EVERY VOICE MATTERS.

And then we’re going to assimilate it and put together an Action Plan.

We’re gonna talk together! A lot!

Because EVERY VOICE MATTERS!

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

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09-12-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
09-12-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Our Vincentian Reality

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve as your new National CEO. I look forward to growing with you spiritually, in friendship, and in service to our neighbors in need!

I thank John Berry and the National Board of Directors for blessing me with this opportunity. I also want to recognize Dave Barringer for his 11 years of dedicated leadership to our Society.

As Vincentians, our focus on spirituality is what I find so inspiring. Each and every one of us is on a spiritual journey of our own, and we’re all at different stages. As Vincentians, we embrace the Beatitudes, just as when Christ said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3]

We all understand that we need to have a spirit of poverty in relation to our spiritual growth. We all know that the more we grow spiritually, the more we realize that we need to grow. I remember St. Mother Teresa talking about how much she needed to grow spiritually. If St. Mother Teresa needed to grow, we all need to grow!

It can be very challenging in trying to be more Christ-like because we are so imperfect. Sometimes as we get older, we find it harder to measure growth than when we were younger.

It may be harder for us to see our growth, but our Vincentian friends and those we are blessed to serve, not only see our growth, but are inspired by it! Think about your own spiritual growth, and recognize how far you’ve come, and how much opportunity we all have to grow beyond any of our expectations.

The future is in front of our Society! Nothing is holding us back because we have the Holy Spirit behind us. Our Vision SVDP initiative allows each of us throughout the country to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling us about what our Vincentian family can become. It’s not about me or you. It is about all of us!

Yes, we are called to see the face of Christ in those we are blessed to serve, but we are also called to be Christ’s voice in today’s world. Our Vincentian family is coming together in a remarkable way to face the future and to embrace our call to define what the future can be.

When we look at the world today, we see a reality that is hard to understand — division, hatred, conflict, and so many other negative things.

As Vincentians, we are called to leave this world behind, and to embrace our Vincentian Reality. A reality that is built on Christ’s commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” [John 13:34]

We can only be successful in our mission, if we take on the challenge of adapting to the changing world with great vigor and enthusiasm. Let me ask you, “What problem in our country and in our world cannot be solved by loving one another?”

I am honored to embrace our Vincentian call to love one another with you. The world is counting on us to see the face of Christ, and to make Christ’s Love come to life for our neighbors in need!

Best wishes in Christ,
Michael

Michael Acaldo
Incoming National CEO

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07-25-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
07-25-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

The Moments That Make Us Who We Are

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you.”
– Jeremiah 1: 5

Wow! God knew that I would travel a road that would lead me to a Vincentian vocation, devoted to serving in my Conference, Council, and region.

There have been many turning points in my life that have shaped me to be who I am today. Though I may not have acknowledged these turning points when they occurred (or even knew that I needed to make a change), I know that these moments were filled with meaning and transformation. These moments exposed my vulnerabilities, my strengths and weaknesses, and my spirituality.

The Directory for Catechesis tells us, “Formation is an ongoing process that, under the guidance of the Spirit and in the living womb of the Christian community, helps the baptized person take shape, unveiling our deepest identity as children of God in profound communion with others.” (DC 131)

Vincentian formation means being shaped through the Holy Spirit, for and by our Vincentian work, into useful vessels God needs for the poor. “As Vincentians, our vocation is one in which we are called to live as Christ lived; to model our lives on the life of Jesus and making our hearts freer for prayer and service.” (The Rule)

Reflecting on my journey to my Vincentian vocation and how my heart has been formed to serve our neighbors in need takes my back to the late 1950s and a grandmother, Julia Jander Fallwell, who shared a loving and unselfish heart to serve the poor of Palestine, Texas. So, let me set the stage of one impactful moment.

My grandmother was born in 1891 and a lifelong resident of Palestine. She was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Her presence is still in this church with the two beautiful side altars that are in memory of the Jander family. Palestine was most known as a railway transportation hub, and the train station was four blocks from my grandmother’s home on the corner of Howard and Lacey.

One Thanksgiving in the late 1950s, our large family was gathered, enjoying a traditional turkey dinner. There was a knock on the back door. My grandmother answered, turned around, walked to the dinner table, grabbed one of her best china plates and loaded it with turkey and all the trimmings. She returned to the back doorstep and handed the plate to an itinerant worker traveling the country by train who had walked from the train station. It became obvious that it was widely known that travelers could come to this generous and caring woman’s home for a hot meal. This single event has always been with me, and I often look back and thank my grandmother for her example of kindness and selflessness.

It took many years to hear and respond to His calling. God has orchestrated my life for maximum benefit. He has put me in the right places at the right time. My formation brought me to a place and time where I share with our friends in need suffering in solidarity. I have always gone back to this Thanksgiving to remind myself what I am called to do. This was my transformative moment. And, so, it has continued through to the present time.

“We need markers of development to assure us that we are making progress and that we are indeed on the same path of faith our spiritual role-models walked.”
– Corella Roberts

My grandmother would be so happy to know that Sacred Heart Catholic Church now has a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, founded in 2008 and aggregated in 2011 to serve the Palestine community. I know if she were here, she would be an active member of this Conference.

65 years after this one life-changing event, poverty is still with us. As with all things, over time we need to consider how we can adapt to our changing world to better serve those in need and to continue the relevancy of the Society. We now have an opportunity over the next several months to listen to all Vincentian voices on ideas how we might adapt with the introduction of Vision SVDP. Consider it a family conversation around a Thanksgiving table.

Yours in Christ,
Susan Wiland

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04-03-24 VisionSVdP Update
04-03-24 VisionSVdP Update 8335 2555 SVDP USA

Dear Fellow Vincentians,

Now that the Midyear Meeting, where we rolled out VisionSVdP, is over, I want to give you a report on how things went at the meeting and let you know about the next steps in this important ongoing national initiative.

You will be hearing much about VisionSVdP over the next two plus years; this is one of the most important and impactful things we have undertaken as a Society in the last 25 years. And it will take the commitment, dedication, and full participation of every Vincentian at every level of the Society to make sure that the work we do will enable us to adapt to a changing world and ensure that our work and our relevance in supporting His people in need and growing in our own holiness and spirituality will continue for generations to come.

The launch of VisionSVdP at the Midyear Meeting was exciting and powerful! Almost 250 people, attendees and staff, participated in five separate listening sessions. Was there some nervousness? Some confusion? Some desire for structure and specific questions to answer? Of course there was! If there was not, I would have been very concerned. This is new ground we are breaking. This is quite easy for some people and exceedingly difficult for others.

These listening sessions require that we not only listen to each other, but that we listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to us and through us. They require that we be candid and open and honest and free thinking. If we gave you a bunch of questions and asked you to answer them, what we would get is — a bunch of answers to questions we asked. What we would NOT get is the things in your heart and in your soul that matter deeply and passionately to you. We would not get the voice crying out in the wilderness with the idea that might make all the difference in the world.

So going forward, if you are looking for a lot of structured conversations in VisionSVdP you might be disappointed, because you are not going to get that — at least not in this phase. But if you come to this process with an open heart and an open mind then I think any disappointment will turn to excitement and joy as you journey together, you and your fellow Vincentians on this path to adapting to a changing world. What this synodal process will provide you is an opportunity for open dialogue; listening sessions that are freeform and unstructured with thinking that is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

So, what is next? 

Now we are going into the Regional Meeting phase. We will hold listening sessions at every Regional Meeting over the next few months. I will be at many Regional Meetings to help facilitate; but since I have not yet figured out how to be cloned, I cannot get to them all. So, Dave Barringer will be at the ones I cannot attend, and the RVPs all participated in the launch at Midyear, so they are familiar with the process. There will be a video from our National Spiritual Advisor, Archbishop Andrew, to kick off each session and help center us on the task ahead.

After the Regional Meetings we are asking all Councils, Conferences, and Special Works to hold VisionSVdP Listening Sessions, preferably before the National Assembly. And I want to make a key point here. When I say we want all Vincentians to participate in VisionSVdP, I mean all Vincentians; Full Members, Associate Members, Staff, and Volunteers. And at some point, we will also determine how we can engage with the people we serve, our neighbors in need, to get their views on the Society and how we need to adapt to a changing world to best serve them.

All the comments from all the sessions will be gathered into a national database where we can all look at it. And when I say we, I mean we — you, me, and every Vincentian — because every voice matters, today and tomorrow. In Phase II, we will all begin to ask ourselves: What does all this mean? Then we will start to determine patterns, similarities, trends, commonalities, and areas where we want to focus. But we will also be looking for that voice in the wilderness.

There will be further updates as we continue the process. Thanks for your continued participation and support.

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

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