President's Message

October 20, 2002

Vincentians,

I attended the National Convention in Philadelphia in August. I gave you a report at the Council meeting on September 10th. The Theme was "Seek & Find." This message will provide a partial summary of the happenings there. We were told that the next Ozanam News would provide a more complete history. I thought that I would provide you an early account, so you will be better prepared for what is to come

Gene Smith our National President started the proceedings He noted that Spirituality Committees are to assist Conferences to obtain Spiritual Advisors.

He expects to conduct Council Peer reviews for accreditation. These will be a review each Council every 4 years. This will help us discover Councils that are note following, and implementing the Rule (Our way of life).

He indicated that weekly reflections on the WEB, and that we should pay a just wage. He also suggested that we have a Catholic Charities person on our SVDP board. We have Bishop Soto on our board.

Sheila Gilbert presented Formation & Education indicating that Vincentians should be of one mind and one heart. Many Vincentians do not know what Vincentianism is all about. So there will be additional materials and training available. She provided a Formation guide for Spiritual Advisors. She suggested that the Spirituality Committee work with the Conference Presidents to identify a candidate for Spiritual Advisor.

Video guides rooted in Scripture (5 minutes + guidebook for a 10-15 min discussion) will be available by mid-year. Conferences presidents are expected to lead the discussions. Some of the topics are:

• Vincentian Vocation
• Vincentian Spirituality
• Heritage & Mission (Frederic, Society, Rule (way of life), org, family
• The Conference Life (Spirituality, Fellowship, Service, Structure, Administration, partnership with the parish)

John Carr discussed how

• Our faith means we address the issues
• Moral measure is how we help those most vulnerable
• We have a message our world needs
• We need to reach out to those in need
• We need a new politics based on ideas, not money or polls, but principles.
• SVDP has a different way to look at the world (scriptural)
• Every life is precious
• Economy is to serve people
• Work for peace & justice
• Integrate our social mission
  • Social mission woven through all
    • Our job is to get the rest include
• Gospel & social together
• We need to share the secret
  • How is SVdP known in the parish
• Practice everyday Christianity
  • How we live our lives every day
• Put our services in a larger context
  • What could be done eliminate the need
• We can make the case for change in public policy
• We need to both serve and advocate
• We cannot say 'that this is not my job.

Fr. Tom McKenna in his presentation on we are family discussed

• What is our motivation?
  • "The greatest of treasons is to do the right things for the wrong reason." TS Eliot
• One is Motivation thru Gospel faith:
• Initially Vincent believed & defended the Gospel
  • Later the words had jumped off the pages
    • This happened because of Fr Berull explanations & spiritual direction, while at the same time he was visiting the poor. The praying and acting (service) interacted. Like a dance.
• Vincent was the fascinated follower who wanted to know the Master.
• What makes Vincentian spirituality different:
  • You, Lord were sent to the poor. (Luke)
  • You strengthen both our spiritual & corporal needs
  • The poor are our lords & masters
  • Jesus had the traits to serve the poor
  • Jesus was approachable/giving
• Vincent followed the down to earth/practical Jesus
  • Jesus is constantly being fed by His Father
  • Jesus hopes & trusts in the Father
    • We are protected
• What does this say to me?
  • Prayer & meditation
  • Honor the memory of Christ
    • Imagine yourself there
• Conscience effort to see Christ in the eyes of the poor
• Develop virtue
  • Integrate virtues in all aspects of life

José (our International President) spoke:

We need to be a community in our Conference. We cannot give what we do not have. We must promote Gospel values. There is a profound Spiritual poverty. We are talking about what the general council wants to do. We need to work with one another, the poor and the Church. We are passively growing.

How do we use technology to help the poor? We need to open up our formation programs. Not just head-knowledge. We need to take this to Africa, not just in the rich countries. We need to grow. We need to bring more people, because the poor are growing. And there are the sick and those who are alone. Every day there men who need to be part of the community. We have to convert ourselves to be proclaimers of the Gospel. We need to use the name of God in our discussions.

Jim Towey –President Bush’s man for Faith-Based Initiatives

The rich man's sin was not that he was rich; it was that he did not help those in need. Mother Teresa said that the worst disease she had seen was loneliness.
Let us preach w/o preaching.

Message from National Convention - 2002
Message from the Annual Dinner
Comments from President at Council Meeting (9/11/01)