Monthly Reflections

Spiritual Reflection – October 2017

SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL = MISSION

MISSION

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is:

To live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.

VALUES

The Mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul implies that as Vincentians we:

  • see Christ in anyone who suffers
  • come together as a family
  • have personal contact with the poor
  • help in all possible ways

“Christ leads us to the poor, and the poor lead us towards Christ.” (Frederic Ozanam)

In line with my role and function within the Society, at the onset of every pastoral year, I make it a point to review the mission, the virtues and the pastoral task entrusted to me, as Spiritual Advisor.

The need to review those is for me essential if I want to remain faithful to the initiative of our saint founders, particularly Blessed Frederic Ozanam who took Saint Vincent de Paul as a model, and support from Blessed Rosalie Rendu. Thus I continue the work we must accomplish, following Christ, servant of the servants, with simplicity, humility, gentleness, zeal, abnegation and charity.

Remembering our roots and our origins can motivate us to serve faithfully and follow the path marked out by our founders.

This faithfulness encourages us to follow the road with trust and perseverance, because we can see that throughout the ages, history repeats itself, but the testimony remains the same: the love of Christ, which lives through the ages, because of the faithful dedication of the members, day after day, for the poorest of our sisters and brothers, who are our lords and masters.

I conclude with the following words, pronounced by Pope Francis on the first World Day of the Poor, “Blessed, therefore, are the open hands that embrace the poor and help them: they are hands that bring hope.  Blessed are the hands that reach beyond every barrier of culture, religion and nationality, and pour the balm of consolation over the wounds of humanity.”

Roger Dubois, Permanent Deacon, Quebec Region Spiritual Advisor
Member of the National Spirituality Committee

Reflection-October-2017

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