2. VINCENTIAN FAMILY
WORLDWIDE
EXPANDING THE CIRCLE
OF SOLIDARITY

3. INTRODUCTION

4. 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

5. 1. GLOBALIZATION AND THE
WORLD OF THE POOR
GLOBALIZATION:
“simultaneous expansion and
compression of time and space”
(Francis Cardinal George, OMI)

7. 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

8. 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)

9. THE WORLD OF THE POOR
(100 PEOPLE)
21
Europeans
57 Asians
14 Americans
(North and South)
8 Africans

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 2. VINCENTIAN FAMILY
A CIRCLE OF SOLIDARITY

14. VF Nigeria
VF WORLDWIDE

15. VF Brazil
VF Local
Council
VF Regional
Coordinating
Council
VF National
Coordinating Council

16. VF Philippines
SSVP
OTHER VF
BRANCHES LOCAL DC
DIOCESES
SCHOOL
ALUMNI
CM
OTHER VF GROUPS LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ABROAD

17. VINCENTIAN FAMILY
WORLDWIDE 2006: 305
Congregation of the Daughters of GROUPS
Mission Charity
Sisters of Charity Religious of St.
Vincent
Society of St. Vincentian Lay
Vincent de Paul Missionaries
Vincentian Association of the
Marian Youth Miraculous Medal
1633: 4
GROUPS
Confraternity of Charity: Ladies of Charity,
Association International of Charity

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. VINCENTIAN FAMILY
WORLDWIDE
International Assemblies:
SSVP (June 2005)
JMV (August 2005)
AMM (October 2005)
MISEVI (Dec 2005)
AIC (March 2007)

22. 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

23. OUR PROJECTS
• Are direct, concrete,
creative work for the
poor
• Recognize the
poor’s evangelizing
capability
• Emphasize
partnership,
collaboration and
solidarity with
others

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

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

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

27. “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

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

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

30. “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 don’t, we will be accused of feeding a
few poor who we know by name, while
letting the world’s shifts create new poor
around us.” (Dennis Holtschneider CM)

31. “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)

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

33. 5. WAYS OF EXPANDING
SOLIDARITY
Three Guidelines
• Direct, concrete work
• Creative partnership
• Poor as protagonist

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

35. 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

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

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

38. CONCLUSION
Change of persons
precedes change of structures
Experience with the poor

39. CONCLUSION
How Vincent expanded the circle of
solidarity:
• rely on God’s transforming power
• allow God to change attitudes and
persons
• thereby usher the possibility of
changing society’s structures

40. 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.”