VINCENTIAN FAMILY WORLDWIDE

EXPANDING THE CIRCLE OF SOLIDARITY

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
1. Globalization and the World of the Poor 2. Vincentian Family: A Circle of Solidarity 3. Vincentian Charism: Fire at the Center of the Circle 4. The Vincentian Family in the US: An Agent for Expanded Solidarity Worldwide 5. Ways of Expanding the Circle of Solidarity

1. GLOBALIZATION AND THE WORLD OF THE POOR

GLOBALIZATION: simultaneous expansion and compression of time and space
(Francis Cardinal George, OMI)

1. GLOBALIZATION AND THE WORLD OF THE POOR

Some Effects of Globalization:
Expanded the scope of communication Increased opportunity for development Limited government control Widened gap between rich and poor

1. GLOBALIZATION AND THE WORLD OF THE POOR

The challenge is to ensure a globalization in solidarity, a globalization without marginalization.
(John Paul II, 1998)

THE WORLD OF THE POOR

(100 PEOPLE)
21 Europeans 14 Americans (North and South) 8 Africans

57 Asians

THE WORLD OF THE POOR

(100 PEOPLE)
52 women, 48 men 70 colored, 30 Caucasians 6 own 59% of resources 80 with bad living conditions 70 uneducated, 1 with higher education 50 underfed

THE WORLD OF THE POOR

1 million will not survive next week 500 million experience war, prison, torture, hunger

3 million do not have religious freedom

THE WORLD OF THE POOR

75% of the world do not have food, shoes, clothes, homes

8% are considered well-to-do

200 million cannot read

2. VINCENTIAN FAMILY A CIRCLE OF SOLIDARITY

VF Nigeria

VF WORLDWIDE

VF Brazil
VF Local Council VF Regional Coordinating Council VF National Coordinating Council

VF Philippines
SSVP OTHER VF BRANCHES

LOCAL DIOCESES

DC

SCHOOL ALUMNI OTHER VF GROUPS ABROAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT CM

VINCENTIAN FAMILY WORLDWIDE

Congregation of the Mission Daughters of Charity

2006: 305 GROUPS

Sisters of Charity

Religious of St. Vincent Vincentian Lay Missionaries Association of the Miraculous Medal

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Vincentian Marian Youth

1633: 4 GROUPS
Confraternity of Charity: Ladies of Charity, Association International of Charity

VINCENTIAN FAMILY WORLDWIDE

Hospitals, schools, home for elderly & sick, youth camps, peace and justice, migrants, missions, clergy formation, parishes, community development, savings projects, assistance to AIDS victims, etc.

VINCENTIAN FAMILY WORLDWIDE

International Projects:
(2001) Globalization of Charity (2003) Political Campaign against Malaria (2004) Aid to Tsunami Victims (2005) DREAM PROJECT of DC and C. of St. Egidio

VINCENTIAN FAMILY WORLDWIDE

International Assemblies:
SSVP (June 2005) JMV (August 2005) AMM (October 2005) MISEVI (Dec 2005) AIC (March 2007)

VINCENTIAN FAMILY WORLDWIDE

Representation before: UNITED NATIONS UNESCO UNICEF ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) OIC (International Catholic Organizations) EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network), and Other Pontifical Councils

OUR PROJECTS
Are direct, concrete, creative work for the poor Recognize the poors evangelizing capability Emphasize partnership, collaboration and solidarity with others

What distinguishes the Vincentian Family from other networks of social service providers, from other groups who work also for the poor and their development?

3. VINCENTIAN CHARISM
THE FIRE AT THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE OF SOLIDARITY

Christ says: Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me . . . (Mt 25:31- 46)

The poor are our lords and masters (SV)

Contact with the poor: an experience with God

selflessness mutuality, interdependence, solidarity

A Trinitarian experience: bedrock of solidarity and partnership

The passion of Vincent, a passion for justice, a passion for Jesus poor (G. Gregory Gay CM, Superior General)

4. VINCENTIAN FAMILY IN THE U.S. - AGENT FOR EXPANDED SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE

The

world is literally reorganizing itself around us, and that reorganization is affecting the poor greatly. That reorganization requires its own set of responses to the needs of the poor. Or, if we dont, we will be accused of feeding a few poor who we know by name, while letting the worlds shifts create new poor around us. (Dennis Holtschneider CM)

Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is a human creation and it can be overcome and eradicated by actions of human beings. (Nelson Mandela)

From

the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

5. WAYS OF EXPANDING SOLIDARITY

Three Guidelines
Direct, concrete work Creative partnership Poor as protagonist

TWINNING PROGRAMS
SSVP Hong Kong and Singapore with SSVP Cambodia AIC, CM, DC Ukraine with De Paul Trust

ADVOCACY
Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (Ireland) AIC International Assembly 2007 (Rome): Women and Poverty in the Diversity of Cultures USA: National Visibility for the Poor

FORMATION
Reflection on Vincentian Spirituality Translation of Formation Manuals Access to Formation Materials on the Internet
(www.vinformation.famvin.org)

YOUTH
64 % under 25 Share the Vincentian charism Give motivation and guidance Bring them into the circle of solidarity Recruit them for the mission

CONCLUSION

Change of persons precedes change of structures Experience with the poor

CONCLUSION
How Vincent expanded the circle of solidarity: rely on Gods transforming power allow God to change attitudes and persons thereby usher the possibility of changing societys structures

St. Vincent tells us

Let us ask (the Divine Majesty) to grant us the grace of corresponding in this spirit to the plans God has for each of us in particular and for the (Family) in general, and to inspire everywhere this spirit of fervor for the charity of Jesus Christ, in order to merit that God may shed it abundantly on us and, by helping us to produce the effects of it in this world, may make us eternally pleasing to God His Father in the next.