LCUSA

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless
until they rest in you”.

(St. Augustine of Hippo)

To all members of the Vincentian Family

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

May the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts now and forever!

We live in a world filled with restlessness. Life’s demands often come upon us at a fast and furious pace. Living with the realities of war, poverty, terrorism, political unrest, economic and ecological disasters, we are a people wearied by life. Our sentiments can be like the psalmist: “How long, O Lord? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Ps. 13:1)

In the midst of these challenges, the Church offers us a precious gift: the season of Lent.  It is a sacred space, a time beckoning us to pause, draw back from life’s daily grind, and drink more deeply of Jesus’ story of our salvation: his life, passion, and resurrection. Simply put, Lent is a time of sabbatical for the soul.

As a people claimed by Christ and committed to the charism of St. Vincent de Paul, this holy season can help us better live out our Catholic faith and the Vincentian way. Like Vincent, our identity is rooted in Christ. A reading of the first Sunday in Lent tells us Jesus “suffered once for our sins, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.”(1 Peter 3:18)  These forty days of Lent are not only a time for prayer, penance, and almsgiving, but also for reflection, connection, and action.

A Time for Reflection   

The Sunday Gospels in Lent give us much food for thought as they reveal the person and power of Jesus. He is seen as a mystic emerging from the desert, a Messiah transfigured before the apostles, a prophet driven to decry injustice in the temple precinct, a wise teacher willing to dialogue with a Pharisee, and a suffering servant ready to glorify God by embracing his Passion. From these Gospels and in the daily Scriptures for the Eucharist during Lent we find the stories of God’s love and mercy to Israel, and Jesus’ words and deeds in proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

By praying the Lenten Scriptures and partaking daily in the Eucharist, we open ourselves to the great mercy of God, manifested in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It was Vincent de Paul’s willingness to reflect deeply on Jesus’ life and teachings, and his eagerness to integrate them into his life that made him a “mystic of charity”. Vincent was imbued with a drive to serve the poor, and he motivated and empowered others to do the same. But what fed his restless soul were not ideas and accomplishments, but a mind and heart given to reflection and contemplation:

“We cannot better assure our eternal happiness than by living and dying in the service of the poor, in the arms of Providence, and with genuine renunciation of ourselves in order to follow Jesus Christ.” (St. Vincent: CCD, Vol. 3, p. 384, Letter 1078, 4 December 1648)

Vincent’s personal conversion in making the teachings of Jesus his own and his founding   communities and organizations to serve the poor were the fruit of his life-long commitment to prayer and reflection. In making time for reflection, we are like the Greek elders who asked the apostle Philip: “Sir, we would like to see Jesus” (Jn.12:21). And as Vincent’s life teaches us, God never refuses an invitation to commune with us.  Lent is the time for us to do so.

A Time for Connection

The fruit of time spent in reflection and prayer is a deeper connection with God, oneself, our neighbor, and the poor. In a restless world of discord and disconnection, Lent helps us to deepen our discipleship with Christ and better live our Vincentian charism. We can learn from Vincent, whose genius in connecting people to achieve the common good endures today. The Lenten Gospels portray Jesus as always fervently doing the Father’s will. By his prayer and in his Passion, Jesus always remained connected to God.

Years ago, a popular advertisement in the USA used as its slogan “We’re all connected”. In today’s digital age, this refrain is all the more relevant. Our faith and charism challenge us to connect Jesus’ command to love God and serve our neighbor more profoundly. Lent calls us to examine more clearly the presence of the suffering Christ in the world so that we might understand their plight and be Christ to them.

As Superior General, I have the privilege of visiting the Vincentian family throughout the world and witnessing how our charism connects the poor to Christ. Allow me to share two such encounters. Both are ministries coordinated by the Daughters of Charity, serving vulnerable at-risk children who live in poverty.

On a trip to Haiti to view the progress of our Zafen Project, I visited a school started by Daughters of Charity begun in response to the plight of the Restavek children. It is truly tragic: between 175,000 to 300,000 of these children come from families unable to take care of them, and so are sent to work as ‘indentured servants’ for relatives, acquaintances, or other Haitian families. Called “Restaveks”, (French-Creole for “rester- avec – to stay with”), their lives are not restful, nor do they belong ‘with’ the family they serve. Often mistreated and abused, Restavek children cannot attend school, and lack food, clothing, and health care. At the Daughters’ school for Restaveks, they are fed, taught to read and write, and treated with a respect and dignity they have never known. To learn more about the Restavek children, go to:  http://www.restavekfreedom.org.

In Ghana, as with many developing nations, the exploitation of children is ever present. In Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city, many homeless children live on the streets and survive by begging or day labor. Often beaten and abused, many become victims of human trafficking. The Daughters of Charity, with the Archdiocese of Kumasi, founded “Street Children Project”, a drop-in center providing respite from the perils of the street. It offers them a place to rest, (basic, simple  floor space), the use of bathrooms to shower and wash, clean clothes, literacy classes, day care, outreach, and alternatives for these children. It is a quiet space amidst a harsh life of exploitation. To learn more about this work, go to: http://www.streetchildrenprojectksi.org.

I think you would agree that these two Vincentian works would be near and dear to the hearts of Sts. Vincent and Louise. They stand as wonderful example of “grass-root” efforts to respond to the cry of the poor and forgotten with the Good News of Jesus. Lent is a time not only to reflect on Jesus’ life, but to connect with God’s poor and  act on their behalf.

A Time for Action 

“What must be done?” This was the question Madam de Gondi posed to Vincent in 1617 as both witnessed the spiritual plight of peasants on her vast family estate. His answer to that question redounds in today’s world in the priests, brothers, sisters, and laity who are the living, organic heart of the Vincentian Family. Ours is a global reality with an outreach much greater than Vincent and Louise could ever have imagined.

But the Lenten season reminds us that the suffering Christ in his Passion is present in our world in countless ways. As disciples of Jesus, it is our task to act on their behalf. “Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did to me.” (Mt. 25:40) It is our task, both individually and collectively as bearers of the Vincentian charism to respond in love and service. While there is always much to keep us busy, let me to suggest another type of action

At our recent General Assembly, the Congregation of the Mission adopted a five-year strategic plan with yearly objectives to better live out our Vincentian vocation and the charism for the Vincentian Family. The objective we are focusing on this year is “Systemic Change”, which we define as working to not only alleviate the conditions of the poor, but to change the societal structures which engender poverty. To encourage our confreres to make systemic change part of their provinces and ministries, there are suggested strategies. While some are specific to the Vincentian Community, I will share with you several strategies I believe can be used by all branches of the Vincentian Family:

• To favor works that promote systemic change in society, develop local self-government, formation of self-help groups and indigenous micro-credit programs;
• To provide legal assistance to defend the poor and promote justice;
• To create programs that counter human trafficking and promote life, access to universal health care, care for the environment, the dignity of women and children, the rights of migrants, and participation in civil society.

These strategies for ‘System Change’ from the Congregation’s plan offer you with a rich diversity of ideas for action. Systemic change is an important goal for the Vincentian Family. I believe we can all find ways to adapt it to our works and educate others of its importance.

In Lent and throughout this year, we have the opportunity to grow in our faith by reflecting on God’s Word and partaking in the Eucharist which deepens our bonds of connection in service of the poor. It is a daunting task, but as members of the Vincentian Family, our “mystic of charity” inspires us to remember whom and why we serve:

I beg Our Lord that we may be able to die to ourselves in order to rise with Him, that he may be the  joy of your heart, the end and soul of your actions, and your glory in heaven. This will come to pass if we humble ourselves as He humbled Himself, if we renounce our own satisfaction to follow Him by carrying our little crosses, and if we give our lives willingly, as He gave His for our neighbor whom he loves and whom he wants us to love as ourselves.” (St. Vincent: CCD, Vol. 3, p. 616, Letter 1202, 27 March, 1650.)

Our restless world, along with the plight of the Restavek and Kumasi children can seem at times to be overwhelming. But our faith in Jesus and the Vincentian charism provide us with renewal, strength, and confidence to face the future with hope. Through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, I pray this Lent will be a time when God’s grace and goodness may be more fully manifested in your life and the lives of all whom you serve.

Your brother in St. Vincent,
G. Gregory Gay, C.M.
Superior General

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by Maureen McMillan, LCUSA Executive Administrator

We are all familiar with the term “our Vincentian Family” but it was only two years ago that I came to understand how large and varied the family is, especially here in St. Louis. In 2009, Vincentians the world over began to prepare for the 350th anniversary of the deaths of Sts. Vincent and Louise. Here in St. Louis a committee gathered to plan events to mark the celebration and I was invited to join. When I came to the first meeting I looked around the room and saw not only the names of people and organizations I knew but also several with which I was unfamiliar. Among those at the table were the familiar: Daughters and former Daughters of Charity, affiliates of the Daughters of Charity, representatives of both the local and national St. Vincent de Paul Society, Vincentian priests and Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, but also those I did not know as well – Vincentian Service Corps, Vincentian Marian Youth, and the Association of the Miraculous Medal.

The international Vincentian Family announced in the fall of 2009 that a special project would be launched in Haiti as part of the commemoration. If Vincentians all over the world focused in a concerted way on the dire poverty in that country, meaningful change might be effected. While we waited for the international project to be revealed, the St. Louis family encouraged its members to consider alternative Christmas giving to another program which provides nutritious food to undernourished Haitian children.

When the international family announced the creation of Zafen, it had three aims: to provide microloans to Haitians, to offer scholarships to school children and to restore the badly deforested countryside by planting trees. Our local committee decided that the collection at the anniversary liturgy would be earmarked for the Haiti Reforestation Project. It was our belief that the money we raised would not only purchase badly needed vegetation but would also plant the seeds of hope for a better future in Haiti.

The commemorative celebration was comprised of two events. On August 21, 2010, more than 150 St. Louis area Vincentians turned out to volunteer at sites in the St. Louis area. On Sunday, August 22, more than 600 people shared the Eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral with Fr. Gregory Gay, C.M., Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, as homilist. This event raised $6,500 for Zafen to be matched by the international family for Haiti reforestation.

In November of 2010, the Vincentian Family Collaborators held a U.S. – Canada Vincentian Family Systemic Change Meeting in Belleville, IL. Many of our local family leaders attended this conference and came away charged with training others in the principles and methods of a systemic change approach to combating poverty.

In March 2011 we held a half-day workshop attended by more than 100 St. Louis Vincentians from every branch of our local family. The most powerful portion of the day was a presentation by a staff member of the St. Louis Council of St. Vincent de Paul who detailed his Project Plus Program. He introduced the group to one of his successful clients, Vadicka, who captivated the audience with the story of her struggle and the road to self-sufficiency this program had given her. Attendees left the session with a new vocabulary and a new outlook on their approach to fighting poverty in our community.

These gatherings of the St. Louis Vincentian family have strengthened the bonds of friendship and collaboration and sparked a desire to continue meeting and working together. From that initial workshop has come a new committee which will carry on the work of planning the next gathering. Our vision has expanded beyond the immediate task of orchestrating the events of that year to forging a stronger and more effective relationship for years to come. †

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“With this fraternal greeting I write to you in order to present some comments with regard to the Vincentian Family Day of Prayer which will take place on the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul… Thus we propose the following theme for the Day of Prayer on the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul (2011): Harvest the fruits of the Jubilee Year! 

Rome, 19 July 2011

To all the members of the Vincentian Family

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be always with us!

With this fraternal greeting I write to you in order to present some comments with regard to the Vincentian Family Day of Prayer which will take place on the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul.

I realize that in different parts of the world the Vincentian Family engaged in many activities as they celebrated the 350th anniversary of the death of Saint Vincent and Saint Louise. We, the members of the Executive Committee of the Vincentian Family, have decided to take advantage of this important moment in the life of the Vincentian Family and propose that on the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, September 27, 2011, we pause and reflect on the meaning and significance of the different celebrations and projects that were engaged in during the Jubilee Year (especially those activities undertaken on a local level). In other words, our hope is that we internalize in a positive manner the richness of all the reflections, celebrations and work that was done during the Jubilee Year.

Thus we propose the following theme for the Day of Prayer on the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul (2011): Harvest the fruits of the Jubilee Year! May the different associations share their reflections so that on the feast day these reflections can be shared with others during the celebration of the Eucharist. At the same time the different groups and associations can express in some manner during the Eucharist the commitment that resulted from this shared reflection. The objective here is to celebrate and deepen the meaning of the fruits of the Jubilee Year, discerning the invitation of the Lord’s Spirit to deepen our roots. As we do this we also seek to insure our acceptance and growth in the challenge “Charity-Mission” so that we might better serve people who are poor.

This year we prefer not to send out any formal outline with regard to the celebration of Saint Vincent’s feast. We leave this to the creativity of each National Council and local group of the Vincentian Family. Before the Day of Prayer we invite the different branches to come together and reflect on a local level or to come together and reflect with other members of the Vincentian Family in your area. We then invite you to send your reflections and conclusions to the national leadership team. If the Vincentian Family is organized in this manner in your country, we ask that these National Councils then send a synthesis of these reflections to the office of the Vincentian Family of the General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission in Rome (famvin@cmglobal.org). It is important to send beforehand your reflections on the Jubilee Year so that this might be made known to the International Vincentian Family.

After the Day of Prayer it is also important that you share the actual celebration of the feast day: content, program, videos, the different shared reflections, the creative ways of celebrating the feast, etc.

In this way we can share all of this with the rest of the Vincentian Family through the different means that we have at our disposal, especially the web page of the Vincentian Family. I am convinced that if we share the different ways in which the Lord has spoken to us during the Jubilee Year and share the ways in which we can deepen the fruit of the Jubilee year during the celebrations of Saint Vincent’s feast, then we can become more united and more grounded in our evangelization and service as a family.

Dear sisters and brothers of the Vincentian Family, the Jubilee Year was not some event that began and is now ended. Rather it was an event that had an impact on our lives … an event that gave us new energy to serve Jesus Christ faithfully and creatively today. We extend to you our embrace and our prayers as you prepare to celebrate the feast of Saint Vincent. May we be renewed in our commitment of mission and charity and may we move forward in a creative way as we continue this commitment.

Your brother in Saint Vincent,

G. Gregory Gay, C.M.

Superior General

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In mid-July of this year, Fr. Bob Maloney reached out to the Vincentian Family to help support the second year of its scholarship program with the Foundation for the Technological and Economic Advancement of Mirebalais (FATEM) to educate economically disadvantaged elementary students in Haiti. With the support of Vincentian Family members, last year FATEM educated more than 2,000 Haitian children in 14 rural schools, each of whom received a nutritious daily meal and the school supplies necessary for success. This was accomplished through Zafèn, the online microfinance initiative the International Vincentian Family created to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the deaths of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac.

The LCUSA responded to Fr. Maloney’s call by providing $1,000 to fund 20 scholarships through Zafen. The LCUSA is grateful to its members for making it possible to help the Vincentian Family reach its goal.

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The following is taken from the Summer 2011 Servicette

Mary Domer & Mary Johnson, Co–Presidents, LC Milwaukee

Lately, as Ladies of Charity, we have talked about systemic changes in our organizations. Yet, this is not a new idea. The founder of Ladies of Charity, St. Louise deMarillac, and others, were part of systemic changes from 1625–1635. Your organization may want to learn about these early Ladies of Charity. Sr. Frances, Ryan, D.C., Ph.D., shared that history with the Association of the Ladies of Charity, Milwaukee, WI, at our March 8th Day of Reflection.

Questions to ponder:

Did you know that Ladies of Charity heard the call to serve the poor, before the Daughters of Charity were founded?

Who are Madame Goussault, Mademoiselle Pouallalion and Madame, The Duchess of Aiguillon?

What did these early women do with foundlings?

How does one supply milk to foundlings left on a door step?

For answers to the above, consider asking Sr. Fran to come speak to your organization. She is filled with a wealth of historical knowledge.

Sr. Fran shared a current and important question for all Ladies of Charity to consider, “As the federal budget cuts governmental programs, what will be the challenge for the Ladies of Charity and other non-profit organizations?”

You may contact Sr. Fran by contacting the LCUSA Service Center.

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