From the Provincial

“The blessings that I wish for you and yours this Christmas season are the blessings which flow from opening ourselves to God’s love...”

The Blessings of Love

Dear friends,

May Jesus Christ be praised.

I wish each of you the blessings of the Christmas season. As the evangelist St. John reminds us, “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us...we love God because he first loved us.” God’s is always the first step – from creating us in his own image to redeeming us in Jesus to daily offering us his help and assistance – all so that we might respond in love. And as St. John continues to teach us, the way we respond in love to God is by reaching out in love to each other: “Whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” The blessings that I wish for you and yours this Christmas season are the blessings which flow from opening ourselves to God’s love and from extending that love to others.

It is hard to think of loving others this particular Christmas season without thinking of all those who have suffered and still suffer from the many natural disasters these past several months in our own country and around the world. Whatever we can do to continue remembering and reaching out to them is the first act of love beckoning us this Christmas.

Within the Midwest Province, it has been a busy few months. Work continues on our new residence in Perryville, and the project manager tells me to continue planning for a late spring completion. Whether then or later, it will be a most welcomed new home especially for our seniors.

Over Labor Day weekend, our Superior General from Rome, the Very Reverend G. Gregory Gay, CM, visited a few cities in the Province. At Perryville, in addition to spending time with our senior priests and brothers, he also blessed the cornerstone for the new residence. During his visit to St. Louis, Fr. Gay had the opportunity to meet this year’s participants in the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, one of the young adult programs in the Province. We hope Fr. Gay can return someday soon to visit the rest of the Province and see the many other good works being done.

Fr. Ray and I have been busy preparing for the visitation and review of the Province’s conformity with national standards for Protecting God’s children. As you may know, the religious orders of the United States have contracted with an independent company to set standards, visit the religious orders, and evaluate their compliance with the norms and practices which have been set and clarified in the last three years since the Dallas Charter. We are committed to professional behavior in our ministry and actions, to responding immediately in a compassionate and just manner to all allegations of misconduct, and to providing an environment that supports, heals and safeguards all God’s people, especially children. The upcoming visitation will give us an opportunity to demonstrate that we are serious about our commitment and that we have translated our values into observable behaviors.

Meanwhile, the good work of the priests and brothers of the Province goes on day in and day out. Whether engaged in the works of evangelization, in serving the poor, in forming future clergy and laity, in working with youth and young adults, and more – the spirit and vision of St. Vincent de Paul is alive and well.

I am always grateful for your prayers, collaboration and financial support which help us continue our mission. At this Christmas season, I especially give thanks to God for you and promise you my prayers.

May the blessings of God’s love be yours.

James Swift, C.M.