FROM THE PROVINCIAL

Good News in Action

Dear friends,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

In last September’s issue, I spoke briefly about the “Vincentian Family,” the many groups who were founded by St. Vincent de Paul or who regard him as their source of inspiration and dedication to the service of the poor. At the time, I highlighted the Ladies of Charity, founded by St. Vincent nearly 400 years ago, who were celebrating their 150th anniversary of establishment in the United States. This year we are celebrating the anniversary of yet another member of the Vincentian Family, one well known to many of you. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by Blessed Frederick Ozanam.

Blessed Frederick was a French college student, a young man of deep faith and great vision. One April evening in 1833 – April 23, his 20th birthday – he was with his friends discussing once again the Catholic faith and the state of religion in France. Challenged to do more than just defend his faith, Blessed Frederick responded, “Let us no longer talk about charity. We must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did ... let us go to the poor.” And so began the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which quickly grew in Paris, then throughout France, and then Europe, coming to the United States in 1845. Today there are 120,000 men and women members in the United States and 750,000 members throughout the world in 144 countries. The Society is the largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world.

The mission of the Society remains unchanged – to grow spiritually by sharing the faith with friends, giving person-to-person service to the poor, and eradicating the causes of poverty. The ways of doing this have changed and developed over the last 175 years. As Blessed Frederick once said, “Do not be afraid of new beginnings. Be creative. Be inventive. Organize new works of love in the service of the poor.... Launch out, do not wait.” To all the Vincentian members of the Society, a blessed anniversary!

All of us in the Vincentian Family are motivated to share the good news of salvation in Jesus. This is the root meaning of the word evangelization. The feature story of this issue turns to the Province of the West and the work of their Evangelization Center in Montebello, California, and to the Southern Province and their work of evangelization in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Both are examples of how we priests and brothers, in collaboration with so many others, continue the mission given us by St. Vincent.

Of course, these last few months we have been especially mindful of
the evangelization work the Midwest Province is supporting in Kenya. In the midst of tragic violence, political unrest, disruption of daily life, and nearly 250,000 people being forced from their homes, our Vincentian priests and brothers, along with the Daughters of Charity and members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, have continued to reach out to the poor of Kenya. So many of you have contacted us with promises of your prayers for peace in Kenya and with financial support so that we can continue our ministry there. I thank you in my own name and also in the name of our missionaries in Kenya.

St. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission on January 25, the feast of the conversion of St. Paul. Each year on or near this feast, we celebrate our
foundation. This year, to mark our “foundation day” in a special way, we hosted a gathering in Chicago for area donors as well as former members of our Community. As with past similar events, this gathering was a great success, enjoyed by all who could attend. All of you, our readers, benefactors, former members, and supporters – especially those of you who support us with your prayers – are partners with us in our mission. I thank you for your collaboration
in so many ways.

As spring officially begins and as we celebrate the good news of our salvation in the risen Jesus Christ, I thank you for all you do for the Church and for the Province. You are in my daily prayers.

Easter blessings,

James Swift, C.M.