FICHA 1

Catechesis 2 - THE VINCENTIAN CITY OF THE FUTURE

We will study the conference “JMV IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM” given by Fr. Robert P. Maloney on August 9, 2000 in Rome (page 33 of the book “OPENING THE DOOR OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM”).
We will also study the conference “THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW” (page 181 of the book “OPENING THE DOOR OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM”).

INTRODUCTION

Our world begins this new millennium full of contradictions in its economic, cultural and technological growth. This growth offers great opportunities to a few lucky ones while millions of persons are left out of this progress and live in conditions that are way below the minimum required by human dignity. Our world is undergoing a change; many talk of a “global village” or as Congar prefers to say, citing John Wesley, “the whole wide world is my parish”. A crucial factor in this globalization has been the great development in the area of transportation and communication. To feel ourselves as a citizen of this world implies feeling like that character of “Terencio”, wherein now nothing referring to humans will ever seem strange to me.

What is the role of the JMV member in this world that opts for globalization, for information technology, for short-term projects…?

Fr. Robert Maloney describes TODAY’S REALITY.... how can you, as a young person in this 21st century, commit to a way of life that would consider:

The Gospel as a way of life and a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
Belonging to a parish, youth community... living out an ecclesial communion.
Giving a positive and committed response, in solidarity with young people, children, the poor.... in situations of isolation, poverty and disability.
Formation that would qualify your evangelising mission.

How would you do it? Make a short group / community project.

At a personal level

At the group / community level

At the parish, diocesan or church level

I invite you to dream about a Vincentian City in the future. It could be built around three important avenues that would bring together the coming together of the main buildings and allow the expansion of the spirits of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac in the whole world in such a way that, from generation to generation, the poor would feel that they are GOD’S FAVOURED ONES.

A. “FREEDOM” AVENUE

Pope John Paul II affirms: “Sometimes when we look at the young, with the problems and weaknesses that characterize them in contemporary society, we tend to be pessimistic. The Jubilee of Young People however changed that, telling us that young people, whatever their possible ambiguities, have a profound longing for those genuine values which find their fullness in Christ. Is not Christ the secret of true freedom and profound joy of heart?” (John Paul II, NOVO MILLENNIO INEUNTE)

Vincent de Paul’s life was marked by this freedom. His option for the poor manifested this inner freedom and we, as his followers, want to be like him and so:

Be free to express the truth with regard to the social problems of our time.
Be free to be with the poor in their struggle for justice and human promotion.
Be free to live united in a community that loves, instead of isolating themselves from, those who are different.
Be free to dedicate time for prayer.
Be free to reject any immediate satisfaction for other more important goals.
Be free to give witness to more enduring forms of love.

The Assembly in Rome showed forth the vitality, courage and strength of the Vincentian Family today. JMV takes part in that vitality. At present we exist in more than 40 countries and are encouraged to work harder in the propagation of our Association.

Analyze the challenges in the third millennium outlined by the Father General (pages 37-43). Would you be able to suggest specific lines of action for your center or parish? What can you contribute so as to enable this “city” to enjoy freedom? Formulate a Decalogue and place it in a prominent place during your meetings and celebrations.

DECALOGUE

(Make first a personal Decalogue and after sharing it with the others, formulate together a common one.)

10.

B. “PROPHECY” AVENUE

The prophet captures the attention of the listeners because he astonishes them. Words are not necessary because the prophet proclaims with his life. These persons dedicate their life in giving a response to the needs of the poor. They deeply and truly believe in the Kingdom of God and in bringing to fulfillment the utopia of the Gospel message. St. Vincent and St. Louise were prophets of their time and, from then on, that prophetic stream has been handed down to us until our time. Vincent founded three groups that have lasted almost four centuries and continue to breathe his spirit today: Because the prophetic charism of St. Vincent is very appealing, our family today has become very large. Fr. Robert Maloney affirms: “... They have handed on to us the remarkable vision of Vincent de Paul, a vision that sees the world upside-down, so to speak, where the poor are kings and the queens and the presidents in the Kingdom of God and we are their servants.”

Read the conference “The Vincentian Family: yesterday, today and tomorrow” of Fr. Maloney. Of the challenges presented, which do you think take priority in your community, in your Center? Can you try to point out some specific channels for its accomplishment?

CHANNELS:

I invite you to go through some of St. Vincent’s emails:

SENDER	BYTES	SUBJECT
Vincent de Paul	1 K	LOVE
“It is only by our love that the poor will forgive you the bread you give them.” “Love and help each other, bear one with the other and be united in the spirit of God.” “God is Love, and He wants us to go to Him by the way of Love.” “Love is creative unto infinity.”

SENDER

BYTES

SUBJECT

Vincent de Paul

1 K

OPTION FOR THE POOR

“Our Lord willed to mingle with the Poor to give us the example to do likewise.”
“Serve the poor to the best of your ability, and commit the rest to the goodness of God.”
“To love the poor is to love God the right way; to serve them well is to serve Him well; to honor our Lord, we should imitate Him.”
“You practice all the virtues and you are one with Jesus Christ when you cooperate with Him in the salvation and consolation of the Poor.”
“It is an obligation for us to inconvenience ourselves for the service of the poor. ”
“Blessed are they who wear themselves out for Charity.”
“Oh, what a happiness to do what Jesus did! He came to evangelize the Poor and this is your lot and duty.”

Surf the INTERNET: What projects do the members of the Vincentian Family have that are prophesies of Love, Justice and Charity for all men?

PROFILE OF THE PROPHET	CHALLENGES FOR THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM (Opening the door of the third millennium)
They radiate God, who is Truth. The prophet speaks in God’s names; he listens to what God has to say.	“As Christians, we are men and women nourished by the word of God.” (Page 189) “If you listen well, the word of God will enter your life in strikingly different ways. It will change you.” (Page 190)
They are in close contact with man’s needs. The prophets not only seek justice but, at the same time, walk alongside the poor.	“I urge you today to go out to the poorest of the poor, whoever they may be in your own land.” (Page 189) “As the third millennium breaks upon us, let the Vincentian Family witness clearly before the world: we stand at the side of the poorest of the poor and seek to foster their integral human promotion.” (Page 189)
By living in solidarity with others in a world full of individualism, the prophet proclaims co-responsibility, integration and unity among peoples.	“I urge you to keep contact with one another after this meeting. Establish a worldwide communication network, especially through the Internet. Use it to pray with one another through materials that are distributed to help us to pray.” (Page 188)
The prophet witnesses to simplicity of life. They seek only what is necessary. The rest is secondary.	“Tell your friends about St. Vincent. Urge your classmates in school to come and see our youth groups.” (Page 187) “Love is expansive, creative. It reaches out. Invite other young people to share in the great heritage that Vincent de Paul has given us. (Page 186)

C. "FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD" AVENUE

God is friendship. God comes to us in love and calls us to respond to Him, talking and listening to us. God shares to us His deep love and invites us to respond to Him. What calls our attention to this relationship God has with his friends is the intimacy shared. It is clear that listening with attention, speaking with sincerity and trusting in God are signs that characterize a close friendship with God.

At the Assembly in 2000, we were encouraged to strengthen our friendship with God in an intimate encounter: “Holiness is being ‘possessed by God’. The genuinely holy man or woman radiates God’s presence. The holy person brings God’s joy, his strength, his peace, his daily care into the homes and lives of others.” (Page 42)

Look up each of the following Gospel verses and relate them to the affirmations that the Father General makes in this section of the conference: JMV in the third millennium: That we grow in being genuinely holy (page 42, Opening the door of the third millennium)

- Jn. 15:4 - Jn. 14:2 - 1 Th. 4:3-5 - Mt. 5:48

This holiness emanates from a personal encounter with God and brings us to enjoy God’s friendship. John Paul II says: “We who have received the grace of believing in Christ, the revealer of the Father and the Saviour of the world, have a duty to show to what depths the relationship with Christ can lead.” (Novo millennio ineunte 33, Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope John Paul II)

- Do you agree with this affirmation?

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