Vincentians

Could the RULE of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul be rewritten just from observing your Conference? This is a question posed in the Handbook for Spiritual Advisors and a good question to ponder.

This is even a good question to ask your Conference members. Pose the question and invite members to reflect a few moments on what in their life as an SVDP member might be evident and could be included in a Rule written for their Conference. It may be the area of Spirituality, Friendship or Service and how that is seen or experienced. Even in a Zoom meeting, as most are still doing, this could be done and shared aloud by each person.

In our International Rule, Section 2, Vincentian Spirituality and Vocation, there is an important section describing in broad terms that we “journey together towards holiness.”  How does that look in your Conference?  Be specific in your responses.

The President of every Conference has a responsibility for promoting Vincentian spirituality and works closely with the person(s) appointed as Spiritual Advisor. It is even better if a Conference can have two persons share the role of Spiritual Advisor or Spiritual “Facilitator.”  The Spiritual Advisor is dedicated to inspiring, guiding and helping the members in living their Vincentian vocation.

The Opening Prayer followed by a Spiritual Reflection period of 10-20 minutes is an expectation for each Conference meeting.  The Reflection strives to engage the imagination and intellect of Vincentians in ways that deepen personal and communal meditation and response. Responses and thoughts that are shared with our members help us to know one’s another’s hearts and grow in friendship, as well as spiritually.

Many tools and resources are available to aid the Spiritual Advisor: The Handbook for Spiritual Advisors, the Serving in Hope Modules, the Sunday Liturgy Reflection Sheets. All of these are available on the www.svdpusa.org website in the Resource Section and Tools for Members.

When we can meet again in person, there will be some training or formation workshops for Spiritual Advisors, new and experienced. Meanwhile, a current resource is offered on Wednesday evenings of Lent at 7:00 pm. These sessions are based on Module II, Serving in Hope: Our Vincentian Spirituality. You should be receiving the email invitations from the central office to Register and obtain the link to connect on Zoom.

With you on the journey,
Sister Noreen Ellison, SC

One hundred eighty-eight years ago in Paris in 1833 the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is created by 7 college students; 176 years ago in 1845 in St. Louis, MO. the first Conference is established in the United States(sixteen years before the Civil War; 137 years ago in1884 the first Conference is established in Detroit, MI.; 122 years ago the Council of Detroit is established in 1899. (We keep telling young people to wait to tell they grow up before we let them do stuff.)

It was a Saturday, it was 8:00 in the evening, and a small group of seven young men met for the first time in the newspaper office of  Tribune Catholique. The publisher was an elderly fellow by the name of Joseph Emmanuel Bailly. He had agreed to serve as a mentor to the seven young college students gathered around the table. Bailly had founded a student organization called The Conference of History. They met to discuss a wide range of topics. The conference attracted a variety of individuals with differing opinions and beliefs. During this meeting a heated verbal exchange was underway, a fellow by the name of Jean Broet challenged Frederic and his friends: “ We agree that at one time your church was a great church and was a great source of good. But what is your Church doing now? What is it doing for the poor? Show us your good works.” Ozanam accepted the challenge. He and several of his friends agreed to meet again and discuss what they might do in response to this challenge.

On April 23, 1833, Frederic’s twentieth birthday, he and five other students, Auguste Le Taillandier(22), Paul Lamache(23), Francois Lallier(19), Jules Deveraux(22), Felix Clave(22) gathered in Emmanuel  Bailly’s(39) newspaper office. As our Rule, Part I Article 1.1 reminds us Ozanam’s words moved all those present: “We must do what is agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go to the poor!” And so, in the Providence of God, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was born. They formed the first Conference of Charity. These very first Vincentians selected Emmanuel Bailly as the first Conference President.  The new Vincentians then sought out Sr. Rosalie Rendu(47), a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for her assistance and suggestions in ministering to the poor in Paris. She guided and mentored them in the spirit and charism of St. Vincent de Paul teaching them how to serve their neighbors in need with gentleness, kindness, humility and respect when visiting them in their homes. (a historical fact- she was very much loved by the poor of Paris and when she died at age 69, over 50,000 folks from all walks of life in the city attended her funeral). It’s important to remember that during the time of the founding of the Society life in France was extraordinarily difficult, it was a time of bloody wars and revolutions, extreme poverty, and confusion. Frederic Ozanam brings much to the table because of his knowledge of history, law and his deep faith. His contributions, over is short life of forty years, are to numerous to delve into here. I commend a book titled Antoine Federic Ozanam by Raymond L. Sickinger, a member of our Society from Providence, Rhode Island- a great book. You can order it on the National SVdp Website.

SVdPUSA Members site, click on Shop, select Materials Shop,  then chose Heritage. Frederic was beatified by Pope John Paul ll in 1997 during World Youth Day in Paris, France. The Vincentian Family is praying for and awaiting his being named a Saint of the Church with great anticipation.

Ozanam and the other founders chose St. Vincent de Paul as their patron because his name was almost synonymous with charity. The Church has called him The Apostle of Charity and Father of the Poor as far back as the 16 century. The Rule that we still adhere to today was developed in 1835. Between 1833 and 1860 the Society grew exponentially and today provides help to “our neighbors in need” in over 150 countries on six continents, in places like Syria, Russia, China, Ethiopia, Israel, Brazil, India to name just a few. We are an independent Catholic Lay Organization,  which means we govern ourselves in all matters except faith and morals. Anyone can be a member but only active Roman Catholics can hold office. World-wide and here in Detroit we do amazing work to help our neighbors in need because no work of charity is foreign to us because we see the face of Christ in those we serve and because we see the possible. Our challenge now is for each member in each Conference and each Council to leave the Society better off than we found it.

Pray, reflect and act, and keep Frederic’s and his friend’s spirit alive. Make it happen.

Dear Vincentians,

After one year, our conferences are still holding strong, operating a bit differently than in the past, yet reaching out to neighbors in need. The number of calls is less, but the need for food has increased significantly.  The increase in food assistance on Bridge cards has helped along with the federal moratoriums on shelter and local moratoriums on utilities.

We all anticipate an onslaught of calls when the suspensions have lifted, but hopefully federal dollars through the CARES acts, will offset that onslaught to some degree.

Poverty comes in all sizes and shapes.  Our perception of poverty also fluctuates from individual to individual. It’s easy to acknowledge that a neighbor in need who has no furniture, no beds, and little else in basics in their home is impoverished.  Individuals or families who are homeless, living in shelters, or on the streets may receive our immediate care and concern.  The working poor that have lost employment and diminished any savings to zero also receive our compassion.  Neighbors in need who reflect generational poverty may not always receive the same reaction from Vincentians, nor do neighbors who have received unemployment benefits along with the supplements that accompany it. Requests for help from neighbors who have received stimulus checks and haven’t applied them to basic bills may also be on the list of those not considered as needy.

Many of us have at times in our lives experienced difficulty in supporting ourselves or our families. Perhaps it was at a much younger age, due to medical bills or lack of family support.  YET, do we understand the underlying issues related to poverty, the day-to-day struggle, the motivational issues involved, and as described by some authors, the “Tyranny of the Moment.” How frustrating is it to receive a call from a neighbor in need with the cry that the Bailiff will be out the next morning to evict them or the individual that calls or comes into the parish rectory indicating that they have a utility shutoff that day or have no food for their family?

The expectation that we may personally react and act in a timelier manner may fly in the face of those individuals who are fearful of reaching out for charity or are used to the difficulties experienced utilizing the various social service systems.

How can we as Vincentians understand the motivations or difficulties that our neighbors in need experience on a daily basis.

Ozanam Orientation has a component on poverty. Many Vincentians have served their neighbors in need for a long time and learned to cast judgement aside in the consideration of need requests.  Yet, judgmental decisions may still come into play.

Reflect on your conference actions and decisions:

• When a request comes again from someone known to the conference, what is the reaction of your members?
• Is empathy directed to families with young children and not as much to adults living on a limited income?
• If you provide shelter for those homeless, do you limit it to families or include single adults?
• When unusual requests come your way, do you automatically reject them or carefully consider whether there is a way to cover the request?
• Are your conference members comfortable in making home visits or fearful for a myriad of reasons?

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Rule book says that no work of charity is foreign to our Society.  We serve those in need regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political opinions.  Does your conference live this proclamation or for the sake of convenience, judgement or fear, circumvent them?

Consider having a discussion on poverty at your conference meetings. Reflect on the attitudes and opinions from various conference members.  Review the Rule book for inspiration and guidance.  Examine your coffers and determine what your conference can reasonably provide or how can you extend yourselves when necessary.  Make the topic of poverty a part of your spiritual reflections.  Remember the concepts of charity and love and incorporate them into your discussion on your neighbor in need requests.

We are all children of God,

God bless to all of you,
Nancy

Throughout December our liturgies and our personal prayer pleaded for the coming of God among us: “Come Lord Jesus!” In this post Christmastime, we ponder the meaning of Jesus’ baptism by John when Jesus hears the prophetic call of His Father as recorded in Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my SERVANT whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased.”

As commissioned Vincentians, already baptized into the mission of Jesus, we have pledged to know Jesus better and then serve Him in the poor, the marginalized, and the rejected.  Ponder your call and your journey as an active Vincentian. Can you hear God whispering your own affirming call?  “Here is my SERVANT (your name) whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased.” We are servants, but we do not serve alone. We serve as disciples, as follower-servants of Jesus. How, and in what circumstances, do you feel upheld?

To help us be prepared for our serving roles as Vincentians, all new members are expected to participate in an Ozanam Orientation. Conference Presidents or Secretaries, please send your new member’s names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses to: Tara Ng in the SVDP Central Office, 3000 Gratiot Ave, Det. 48207 or email her.

New member Ozanam Orientation is a five-hour ZOOM format that can be completed in one full Saturday or in two half-day sessions. Registration is necessary. Members will be commissioned at the conclusion of Part two.

Ozanam Orientation:

Part 1 Saturday, Feb. 6   9:00-11:30 a.m.
Part 2   Saturday, Feb. 6   1:00-  3:30 p.m.

Ozanam Orientation:

Part 1 Saturday, March 6   9:00-11:30 a.m.
Part 2 Saturday, March 6   1:00-  3:30 p.m.

Other programs to strengthen our Vincentian vocations and spirituality are also scheduled for ZOOM.

Please mark your calendars and then register when you receive the email invitations.

SVDP-D Lenten Reflection:  Tuesday, February 16 7:00 -9:00 p.m. with Ralph Middlecamp, our National SVDP President

Lenten Reflections with Vincent begin: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7:00-8:00 p.m. and weekly for 6 sessions

With you in prayer through 2021,

Sister Noreen Ellison, SC

Over the past month or so, many Conferences have found a way to make the holidays brighter for their neighbors in need. Food distribution, gift cards/ presents and kindness and love are all examples of the outpouring of giving to the poor in one’s community.

Despite the need to be mindful of their own risk of Covid 19 infection, many Vincentians have accepted that risk in offering their time and energy to ensure their neighbors were not forgotten.

At times, I have become caught up in the administrative parts of being President.  Yet, I am brought back to the core of our mission as a member of a conference and its service to our neighbors.

Conference members know many of the people in their community that are in need. Many neighbors seek assistance on a fairly regular basis. Others may only call once, but their request can be a mighty one. In good faith, we extend our support to all.

What can we do moving forward in 2021?

First of all, our Annual Meeting will be virtual this year.  Instead of the usual – Mass, Breakfast, and presentation, we will focus on the Meeting presentation.  Postcards will be sent out prior to the meeting with all the pertinent information.

Events such as the Award Banquet and the Friends Walk are still at the undecided stage.

It is too soon to make a recommendation to initiate home visits again.  BUT we are faced with a need for patience and creativity to continue our service.

For those who have had COVID-19 or lost a family member or friend to this virus, our prayers go out to you.  Moving forward in such a difficult time can seem like an impossibility. In turn, we all have a responsibility to be respectful and supportive of anyone who faces illness or loss.

While many of us have so much, others have so little.  As we sit in our warm comfortable homes, others face eviction, homelessness and hunger.  As you reflect on this, I also ask that you contemplate the words of Frederick Ozanam:

“Yours must be a work of love, kindness, you must give your time, your talents, yourselves. The poor person is a unique person of God’s fashioning, with an inalienable right to respect.  

You must not be content with tiding the poor over the poverty crisis; You must study their condition and the injustices which brought about such poverty, with the aim of long term improvement.” – Blessed Frederic Ozanam

God Bless to all.  Please stay safe and healthy.

Happy New Year 2021,

Nancy

Pay attention! Wake up! Be on alert! God is with us! Our Christian vocation and our Vincentian vocation challenge us to be attentive to God’s abiding presence. Advent is meant to grow that awareness in us. To see and to be! To see the face of Christ in every neighbor, and the flip side of that is to be the face of Christ to each neighbor. It is quite a calling isn’t it?

Meeting our neighbors in need these Covid 19 days is really different. Coming together with our Conference friends is also different but we are being creative and doing our best with all the restrictions this pandemic has placed on us. Could it be that this Advent will be less hectic than other years? Could we create more personal time to reflect and prepare, to be alert to see how Jesus wants to be with us now?

Will it be six feet apart with a mask on? Will it be listening with an open heart to a desperate voice on the phone? Will it be that I assist in making someone’s burden lighter? Will it be that someone experiences Jesus through me? I have a little mantra to pray this Advent. Maybe you will pray it too?

Come Lord Jesus, I want to see you.
Come Lord Jesus, I want to serve you even when you come in distressing disguise! Come!

With you in prayer,

Sister Noreen Ellison, SC

Dear Vincentians,

The Holidays are upon us.  The expectation for how we celebrate them is far different than anything considered normal by any of us. Some families will gather together in small groups, others will visit via Zoom.  Our shopping for presents and our religious worship may be online rather than outside of our home.

We have many choices. Our Neighbors in need frequently have far fewer choices.

Celebrating with one’s family is a hardship if your funds are limited for food purchase. Setting up a Christmas tree or decorating one’s home may not be possible or a meager event, particularly if there are no discretionary funds available.

Presents for children and vulnerable adults may be few, unless an organization steps up and assists a family or individual.

Scheduling a Zoom meeting or telephone contact with family members may be an impossibility if some members don’t have the internet, minutes on their phone or the capability to join.

Despite the far fewer calls that have come to our conferences due to COVID-19 initiating suspensions for utilities and evictions, Vincentians have not forgotten their neighbors in need.

Many conferences are planning a giving event for their neighbors for Christmas or perhaps just provided food for Thanksgiving.

Calls requesting help for Christmas are beginning.  People are reaching out to find a family that they can help and neighbors are reaching out to provide for their families.

As we create our list of neighbors to help during this season, try reserving judgement as to whether a neighbor may have tapped into more than one resource to provide for their family.  Relax your guidelines if someone outside your geographic area truly needs help and you are their only resource.  Show your kindness and love to some one who may less grateful than your expectation.  Remember the homeless, the elderly, and single parents as they frequently don’t have anyone to rely on in addition to their material needs.

In these difficult times, material goods in their excess, become less important to many of us than the connection to our family and friends.

For those we serve, the basic needs of food and shelter remain a priority in the daily struggle for survival.

Merry Christmas to all and have a safe and healthy New Year.

Nancy