Formation Meeting of the Leaders of the Vincentian Family

Rome, Italy – January 2012

Following a tradition the leaders of the different branches of the Vincentain Family gathered together in Rome in order to share and participate in a formation session which was focused on the person of Blessed Frederic Ozanam and the Social Doctrine of the church.  The representatives from the thirteen branches gathered on January 13-15 in the house of Mary Immaculate in order to live a time of sharing and formation.  Our Association was represented by two councilors: Ghislain Atemezing (Cameroon) and Anh Thu (Vietnam).

On January 13^th our gathering began in the afternoon with a special dynamic in the chapel.  Each branch wrote on a piece of paper their desire for the Vincentian Family and also wrote down their expectations for this meeting.  This was then followed by an introduction of the representatives who were present.  This year the Superior General has invited the Sisters of Saint Vincent from Zagreb and the Sisters of Charity, De Paul International and the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul.

The second day of our meeting was more intense.  After Morning Prayer there was a wonderful conference by Dr. Austin Fagan (Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Ireland).  Dr. Fagan presented the spirituality and the charism of Frederic Ozanam and put this in its historical context.  We were made aware of the fact that a question that was posed by some students (what is the Church doing now?) was a determining factor in the struggle of Blessed Frederic.  Thus a group, inspired by Vincent de Paul, was formed and the members of this group were able to reveal their belief through the practice of charity.  Ozanam knew how to establish, in an intellectual environment, new ways of serving Christ in the poor.  After a time for sharing in groups we listened to three presentations from the new members of the Vincentian Family.

In the afternoon Father Mizael Donizeti, CM (Brazil) gave a presentation on the Social Doctrine of the Church in light of the thinking of Frederic Ozanam.  Frederic was presented as an apostle with a new spirit, one who knew how to engage with people who were poor in order to discover their needs.  Frederic’s commitment was rooted in his life of faith.  In the dialogue that followed this presentation we saw how charity goes beyond the boundaries of justice.  The day came to a close with the presentation of the projects of the Congregation of the Mission with regard to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), the project of the International Association of Charity in Mexico, the Daughters of Charity and their project in the area of systemic change in Ecuador and MISEVI with the presentation of their on-line formation for missionaries.

After prayer on Sunday there was a presentation by Father Maloney, CM on the Zafen project and the works of the Commission for Systemic Change.  It was reported that there are plans to have three formation workshops in Europe on systemic change, one of which will take place in Italy in October 2012.  Then Father Joseph Agostino, CM (the new director of the Zafen project in Haiti) presented to us the work of the Commission for the Formation of Leaders.  Four modules are being developed (the Vincentian heritage, the leader as servant, the leader as prophet, the leader as mentor).  It is hoped that the first pilot project will take place in 2013 in the English language group.  This was followed by presentations by the Sisters of the Federation of Strousburg in India, the Vincentian Marian Youth, and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.

During the closing Eucharist, Father Gregory Gay invited us to be like Samuel and to dedicate some of our time to listen to the voice of Jesus in prayer, in the Word, in the Eucharist, and in the daily events of our lives.  We were also invited to follow the example of Saint John and to search for Christ each day among the poor so that our lives might be a true witness to the words of the psalmist:  “Here I am Lord, I have come to do your will”.

Ghislain Atemezing / Anh Thu

+Photos:

« Let us try,

my brothers,

to work for our interior life,

to work hard so that Christ

may take command on us;

Let us look for it

and see to it that

we get away from our

state of lukewarmness

and dissipation  ».

(XI, 429)

The International Secretariat of VMY greets the Congregation of the Mission in the day of its foundation.

Each year after the celebrations of the Christmas season, the Church invites us to engage in a week of prayer for Christian unity.  This year the celebration of this week will take place on January 18-25.

We are requested to enter into the profound mystery of God, the reality that Christ came to save all people and that be became man because he loved all men and women.  Thus we are reminded of the fact that we ought to love one another as true children of God.

Jesus words are very clear: be one just as the Father and I are one. From their own unique situation and with their individual characteristics, all people are asked to contribute to our growth together, to our unity.  The differences among us do not separate us but rather they enable us to complement one another, to broaden our horizons and to seek to know and to do the will of God in our life.

In those places where there are divisions we can say that God is not present.  We are called, however, to make the love of God present through our unity.  This fact leads us to seek unity in our surroundings and to live like the first Christians who heard it said: see how they love one another. This is a sign of the reality that when our hearts are open to God we foster unity.

As Vincentians this unity is revealed in two ways:  first, internally, as we strengthen the bonds of unity among all the branches of the Vincentian Family in order to give life to a shared mission and bring Christ to those who are most poor; second, externally, as we reveal to believers and non-believers that there is a value in following Christ because it is through this following that people are able to reveal the love of God and able to do this by their simplicity in living and acting and evangelizing.

We ought to experience ourselves as Saint Paul did, people who are seeking for new ways to touch those persons who have a need for God.  We ought to be bold as we engage in this process of the new evangelization in the midst of our community, among those people who surround us.

Vincent de Paul tells us that in order to live in unity we, all of us, have to seek for ways to do the will of God in everything.  At this moment in history what God desires from each one of us and from all those who call themselves Christian is that we continually ask God for this gift of unity realizing that the Spirit, with his gifts and charisms, does not separate us but rather brings us together as the Body of Christ.

We ask the Holy Spirit to help us to become aware of our universality.  Indeed, the Vincentian Family is present in every part of the world, in different cultures and in different social realities.  Nevertheless, we are mindful of the fact that the message of Christ is for everyone.  Christ is the One who can give meaning to men and women regardless of their race or culture.  Therefore, as we live together in unity we can be God’s witnesses to those men and women in every culture and religion, to those persons who are God’s chosen ones, to those who are the poorest of the poor.

Father Óscar Muñoz Ruiz, CM

National Director of the VMY

January

General: Victims of Natural Disasters

That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives.

Mission: Dedication to Peace

That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will.

February

General: Access to Water

That all peoples may have access to water and other resources needed for daily life.

Mission: Health Workers

That the Lord may sustain the efforts of health workers assisting the sick and elderly in the world’s poorest regions.

March

General: Contribution of Women

That the whole world may recognize the contribution of women to the development of society.

Mission: Persecuted Christians

That the Holy Spirit may grant perseverance to those who suffer discrimination, persecution, or death for the name of Christ, particularly in Asia.

April

General: Vocations

That many young people may hear the call of Christ and follow him in the priesthood and religious life.

Mission: Christ, Hope for Africans

That the risen Christ may be a sign of certain hope for the men and women of the African continent.

May

General: The Family

That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society.

Mission: Mary, Guide of Missionaries

That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus.

June

General: Christ, Present in the Eucharist

That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life.

Mission: European Christians

That Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of the Gospel.

July

General: Work Security

That everyone may have work in safe and secure conditions.

Mission: Christian Volunteers

That Christian volunteers in mission territories may witness to the love of Christ.

August

General: Prisoners

That prisoners may be treated with justice and respect for their human dignity.

Mission: Youth Witness to Christ

That young people, called to follow Christ, may be willing to proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

September

General: Politicians

That politicians may always act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth

Mission: Help for the Poorest Churches

That Christian communities may have a growing willingness to send missionaries, priests, and lay people, along with concrete resources, to the poorest Churches.

October

General: New Evangelization

That the New Evangelization may progress in the oldest Christian countries.

Mission: World Mission Day

That the celebration of World Mission Day may result in a renewed commitment to evangelization.

November

General: Ministers of the Gospel

That bishops, priests, and all ministers of the Gospel may bear the courageous witness of fidelity to the crucified and risen Lord.

Mission: Pilgrim Church

That the pilgrim Church on earth may shine as a light to the nations.

December

General: Migrants

That migrants throughout the world may be welcomed with generosity and authentic love, especially by Christian communities.

Mission: Christ, light for all humanity.

That Christ may reveal himself to all humanity with the light that shines forth from Bethlehem and is reflected in the face of his Church.

On November 25, a small group of four persons, members of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association in Slovenia, visited is new group of the Association in Rijeka which is in the early stages of being formed.  Sister Veronika Popović invited us to give personal witness to the members of this new group and to share with them the significance of the Vincentian Marian Youth in our own lives.  At the same time we were invited to speak to the group about the different activities that we have undertaken.  We arrived in the afternoon and were greeted by Sister Veronika, DC and Father Dario Gribas, CM.  We traveled to the house of the Daughters of Charity in Rijeka where some fifty sister live.  The young women were arriving and together we had dinner..  After the meal we were welcomed by the Visitatrix who with great joy and pride greeted everyone who had gathered together in the house.  We began with a prayer and then Sister Veronika invited us to begin a process of knowing one another in a more profound manner … the young people who had gathered there were not only from Rijeka but from other places outside the city.

Some group dynamics helped us begin the process of relating to one another.  This was followed by the opening remarks of the new president, Petra Hribar, who introduced us to the group.  We were able to explain the structures of the Association and the different activities that we are engaged in.  As an international councilor I was able to speak about the work and the presence of the Association throughout the world.  The young people then viewed a presentation of Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal.  We concluded our gathering with prayer in the chapel.

The following day the group in Rijeka prepared themselves to receive the Miraculous Medal as members of the Vincentian Marian Youth.  Before the celebration of the Mass we gathered in the chapel to participate in a penitential service and then we shared the Eucharist which was presided by Father Dario Grbac, CM.  During the celebration eighteen young women received the Miraculous Medal as they said “yes” to Jesus and Mary.  In his homily Father spoke about the mission that had been entrusted to Saint Catherine and about the importance of wearing the medal every day.

After taking some photographs we then had lunch.  The Sisters showed us the area that they have set aside for people who are homeless.  When we arrived there the people had just begun to pray before sharing a meal.  Their prayer consisted of a brief passage from the Bible and then a reflection on the passage.

We thank everyone in Rijeka for their kindness and for making the Vincetian spirit come alive.  We are grateful for the different individuals who are collaborating with the VMY and especially grateful for the presence of the Vincentian Marian Youth in Rijeka.

To Jesus with Mary!

Karmen Kunc,
International Councilor

“Christmas is not a time, it is a person, a child, the small Son of God that continues to seek where he will be born. Offer him a place in your heart and you will know the true meaning of Christmas”

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

This is our wish from the International Secretariat

On November 10-12, Father Pavol Noga (International Sub-director) and Ghislain Atemezing (International Councilor) participated in the Congress that met in Vatican City, The Pope and Catholic European Volunteers. This gathering took place during the year of European Volunteers and was organized by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum which is directed by Cardinal Robert Sarah.  The meeting was held in Pius X Auditorium where 160 participants gathered (bishops, representatives of European Episcopal Conferences, as well as leaders of national and international volunteer organizations).  This year the participants were granted an audience by the Holy Father.  Beside the representatives of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association, delegates from two other branches of the Vincentian Family were present, namely, delegates from the International Association of Charity and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.

On November 10^th, Cardinal Robert Sarah, the President of the Pontifical Council, Cor Unum, defined the Congress as a sign of communion and solidarity in the midst of suffering in which the Catholic volunteer is offered a unique opportunity to proclaim God’s love. The cardinal also pointed out that 65% of the European volunteers are students who, through their commitment, learn to value their life and the life of others.  We then listened to the moving testimony of Veronika Ottrubay, a member of the ARCHE community (150 communities in 36 nations).  She spoke about an interior transformation during the time that she was a volunteer.  Her testimony could be summed up with the following phrase: the poor call us to forget ourselves and to accept and embrace them [the poor] as they are and to walk together with them.

Some time before the beginning of this Congress we were given a questionnaire and sixty organizations responded.  The results of this survey were presented at the Congress.  We were shown that the majority of the volunteers (more than 40%) are young men and women, that the different organizations spend little time in prayer (9%) and that the young men and women need more formation (only 4% of the time is dedicated to formation).  During the discussion that followed we became aware of the need for a shared formation between youth leaders and those individuals who are responsible for volunteers.  Time should be taken for greater sharing among different association, for example, sharing of objectives and experiences.

In the afternoon of November 10^th, we listen to a presentation by Kristalina Georgieva, a delegate from the volunteers of the European Commission.  In her presentation she spoke about her role in the European Union and the different initiatives that have been developed, for example, the creation of a body of volunteers in Europe.  She emphasized that technology can never replace the movements of the heart.  We concluded the day by highlighting the fact that we live in a world shaped by human intelligence and therefore when this intelligence is placed at the service of the faith it becomes possible to educate people in the significance of charity.

At 9:30am on November 12^th we gathered in Saint Peter’s Basilica and participated in the celebration of the Eucharist which was presided by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal J. Bozanie.  Then at 11:30am we met with the hope.  It should be pointed out that November 12 is the feast of Saint Martin of Tours, a saint whom Pope Benedict XVI pointed out in his encyclical, Deus caritas est as an icon, illustrating the irreplaceable value of the individual testimony to charity. During the audience the Holy Father stated that as a result of this service of charity we become visible instruments of his love in a world that still profoundly yearns for that love amid the poverty, loneliness, marginalization and ignorance that we see all around us.  He then went on to say: Catholic volunteer work cannot respond to all these needs, but that does not discourage us.

The Pope reminded us that our coming together coincided with the liturgical commemoration of Saint Martin of Tours who is considered in Europe and in the world at large to be a model of charity.  In the context of the present world crisis the Holy Father said that our commitment is a sign of hope, a sign that goodness does exist, a sign that goodness is growing and becoming more evident in our midst.  The Holy Father stated: For Christians, volunteer work is not merely an expression of good will. It is based on a personal experience of Christ. Therefore, Christ’s grace helps us to discover within ourselves a human desire for solidarity and a fundamental vocation to love.

At the conclusion of the Pope’s comments I was honored to have been selected to present our Association to the Pope and then in the name of all the members of our Association I received the Pope’s blessing and his words of encouragement.

May this Congress inspire all of us to greater charity in which we move beyond our own self-interests and become willing to follow the example of our saintly founders who spent themselves on behalf of their sisters and brothers who were poor.

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO PARTICIPANTS.