Catechesis 3 - A LOOK AND A RESPONSE TO POVERTY TODAY  

 A study and reflection guide on the conference of Sr. Juana Elizondo, DC (August 16, 2000), pages 167-180, Opening the door of the third millennium.   

OBJECTIVES: 

1. A HUMANITY THAT CLAMORS

Like the artist who prepares to do a work of art, we, too, get ready to do a “painting”.  In it we want to reflect beauty and color, light and shadow, movement and stillness.  In this new work, we are required to begin by putting in the backdrop of our characters: 

“Neither the progress of these last decades, nor that of science and technology has succeeded in eradicating poverty and its after-effects.  On the contrary, in our day, we are witnesses to the increasing number of persons who lack the fundamentals to live: food, clothing, shelter, health care, general education… there are only a few who enjoy the resources of the earth because they have access to the majority of the riches.  The rest, the greater part of humanity, live on the remaining scraps…”

Against this backdrop described, we want to add some color before putting in it the characters of the “painting”.  What would you do with the following colors on your palette?  How would you color the earth, the world, in this beautiful painting?  

Our canvas is filled with lights and shadows coming from the reality of POVERTY today.  Sr. Juana Elizondo says:  “Mass media presents these realities with impressive numbers and images.  Political parties use them as weapons to make the opposition look guilty and responsible for this disastrous situation, or they make promises that rarely succeed as true solutions.  This can lead us to reduce these realities to an intellectual clamor, oftentimes self-serving.” 

Describe the lights and shadows that you discover in the society that you live in. 

By pairs, make a press release that reflects the lights and shadows of society. 

In the midst of this “painting”, the NEW FACES OF POVERTY described to us by Sr. Juana begin to take an important place:

You could add to this list the new forms of poverty that you have discovered: 

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In our societies, we find it more and more difficult to allow the idea of a “global village” to question our way of understanding life.  What we have achieved with the development of States who enjoy Comfort was gained through the Discomfort of many others.  It is a pity that we throw away all the progress attained with development plans that benefit only a few. 

WHAT CAN WE DO?  AS CHRISTIANS AND VINCENTIANS, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THIS? 

2. A RESPONSE:  THE VINCENTIAN YOUTH

In this painting filled with faces, color, light and shadows, we need to build PERSPECTIVE, trace its DEPTH and discover its “focal point”, the infinite, because without SPACE and profundity, reality can only be appreciated at the first level, highlighting only its horizontality, what’s static and superficial.  With our brush we need to “create” movement, depth and broad horizons.  Deepening in this aspect through commitment and a specific way of life can be a response because since the beginning of time, one of the responses that society has given is attending to the clamor of humanity.And it has done so in different ways, moved by principles of equality, justice….

In this conference, Sr. Juana Elizondo presents the attitudes that characterize a Vincentian Youth who is called to respond with a QUALITY OF SERVICE because “multiple are the forms of poverty and multiple are the forms of service”. 

Make a MAP showing the houses of the DCs and CMs in your country.

In a big WORLD MAP, made by everyone, WRITE the specific faces of poverty that define the reality of each continent. 

Place some symbols that could express what you think these countries need. 

Faced with the misery suffered by many people in the world, what characterizes a Vincentian Youth is that his/her ACTIONS are a result of a profound experience of God and the Poor.  What do we need to do in order to reflect color and light, joy and hope in this “painting” of life?  The Vincentian charism appears in the artist’s palette with warm colors which are able to create unimaginable effects, when mixed with other colors by the artist... this artist who deeply loves life and man, who overflows with care, tenderness, affection, dedication and life. 

When the artist paints in specific persons so as to achieve the harmony and beauty that is being sought, he knows that behind each person there lies a great deal of love, a personal encounter with the poor, because the motivation of a Vincentian Youth is similar to that of the motivation of Jesus, who has a predilection for the little ones, takes the side of the poor and is one with them in their suffering.   The ARTIST himself, JESUS, who through the Incarnation took on human condition, enters into the feelings and experiences of the characters and continues to share the fate and destiny of the poor and the excluded ones: “As often as you did this for one of my least brothers and sisters, you did it for me.”

Look for the following verses and answer the questions below: 

Sr. Juana Elizondo speaks to us about the QUALITY of our service and commitment: 

3. NEW CHALLENGES

A work of art is not finished with the last touches of the paintbrush but rather it remains open to contemplation, to the study and admiration of all those who look at it.  Each person who approaches it will complete the painting gradually by entering into the feelings of the artist and trying to connect with him through an experience of assimilation and passion.  It is impossible to appreciate a painting and remain impassive.  Our whole being experiments a readjustment of feelings and our receptivity to give a response sharpens.  The conference that we are trying to deepen in and work on presents to some challenges, which are none other than an OFFER, they are means that help our readjustment be in accordance with our being.  As Vincentian Youth, let us learn to draw near to this painting of life so that we not only experience beauty and satisfaction but also the urgent need to contribute light, color, depth and surroundings clearer than those represented therein. 

-  What means should we use in order that our commitment to formation will build PERSPECTIVE and so introduce quality in our commitment to service as Vincentians?    

-  What colors (attitudes) should I mix together in order to get the tonality that responds to the desire of the Creator of life? 

- Which paintbrushes would you use in order to know what the world needs from you? 

-   Do you find it difficult to perceive the surroundings of the characters in the painting?  What hinders you from being sensitive to the needs around you?

-  What specific moments should we foster so that our work will be of everyone’s making? 

-  Is Christ the Light that the work needs so as to be able to grasp in its totality the beauty of its characters? 

- Is the light of Jesus and his Gospel that which provokes a committed and steadfast response from you as a member of JMV?

Our work is done and now should be shown to as many persons as possible... they will give it continuity.    I invite you to close this reflection with two moments: 

1.  Share with your GROUP the THANKSGIVING PRAYER that you have made.   

2.  Together let us proclaim: 

            Lord, we are young: we want “to be”

and not give ourselves away to “possessions”.

Lord, we are young: we want “to be”

and not give ourselves away to “pleasure”.

Lord, we are young: we want “to be”

and not give ourselves away to “power”.   

            We are children of the youth,

            capable of building a new world.

            We are children of the youth,

            determined to build your Kingdom.

Help us to discover that You are there

and that You call us in our brothers and sisters in need.

 

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