Our Story - Our Mission | Vincentian Spiritual Reflection April-June 2013

Tony Tome, State President St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria

warmly invites you to the

Bicentenary celebration of the birth of Blessed Frederic Ozanam

When: Tuesday April 23rd 2013

Where: Gerald Ward House - 43 Prospect Street, Box Hill

William Kinsella Boardroom

Time: Beginning at 10:15am - Concluding at 1:00pm

Celebrations will include:10:15 - 10:55am Love, Justice and Charity - Blessed Frederic Ozanam

10:55 - 11:20am Morning tea and birthday cake in reception foyer

11:20 - 12:30pm Launch of the

“Our Story, Our Mission, Our People” A Call to Serve St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria - 2013 Chapter

12:30 - 1:00pm Lunch with the State President

RSVP - Livia Carusi 0448 719 188 or email to [email protected]

Car parking available at Box Hill Centro Shopping Centre - end of Prospect Street - 3 hours = $1.00 or concession 0.50c

Welcome to the first “Our Story – Or Mission”, Vincentian Spiritual Reflections for 2013.

This publication is produced four times a year by our Mission Integration Officer, (based in Membership & Development), St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria.

We encourage your ongoing comments and feedback on the various ways that we an improve this publication. If you would like to provide feedback, please contact Livia Carusi, our Mission Integration Officer, via email at [email protected] or on 03 9895 5859.

Under the leadership of our State President, Tony Tome, State Council representatives, members, volunteers, donors and employees will come together to celebrate the bicentenary of our Founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013, starting at 10.15am and concluding with lunch at 1.00pm, at Gerald Ward House, Box Hill. Please see the adjoining page for details, including RSVP’s.

In giving thanks to Blessed Frederic Ozanam, we are also encouraging our members to prayer for his canonisation. In this edition, we have included the prayer for the canonisation of Blessed Frederic Ozanam.

Enjoy the read and God Bless

Livia Carusi

Welcome

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Reflection 1 April 7, 2013

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. So the disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not doubt, but believe.”

Text (Gospel Story) John 20:19-31

(Leader) Lord Jesus, your resurrection brought forgiveness to the disciples,

(Together) Fill us with your peace!

(Leader) For the grace “to do your goodworks”,

(Together) Fill us with your strength!

(Leader) For the grace to forgive and to be forgiven,

(Together) Fill us with your compassion!

(Leader) For the grace to be witnesses to your resurrection,

(Together) Fill us with your joy!

(Together) Amen.

PrayerWhere have you seen the power of God in human weakness; either in yourselves, or in those you serve?

Discussion

Invite a local community service provider to a conference meeting to talk about what assistance and supports they provide to people in need.

Action

One of the great gifts of St Vincent de Paul was his ability to recognise the crucified Christ in the face of the suffering and to mobilise the energies of others in their service. He was an extraordinary organiser. To aid the most abandoned of his time, Vincent gathered together rich and poor, women and men, clergy and lay people. The gospel proclaims loud and clear that suffering love triumphs, that the power of God works through human weakness, that the light overcomes the darkness, that there is hope even in the face of hopelessness.

Sharing the Mission


At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. The disciples had gone fishing but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Have you caught anything to eat?” They answered “No.” So he said, “Cast your net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “ It is the Lord.”


(Leader) Lord Jesus, you rose from the dead that we might live,

(Together) Fill us with faith and trust!

(Leader) Help us to do the little things well and so reflect your life,

(Together) Fill us with your compassion!

(Leader) And, in all circumstances of our life give us the grace to say,

(Together) “It is the Lord.”

(Together) Amen.

PrayerIn your conference work, when have you found the grace to say: “It is the Lord” ?

Discussion

Before your visits/interviews this week, pray with your assisiting partner to “hand over” the unexpected to God.

Action

It is a remarkable fact that in all the appearances of Our Lord after His resurrection, His disciples and friends had a certain difficulty in recognising Him. Yet that difficulty did not conflict with the assurance which eventually dawned upon all of them, that Jesus Christ had indeed risen from the dead. That should be a source of encouragement to us. We also do not see Him with our physical eyes, and with the first disciples we share the difficulty of seeing Him clearly in the ordinary events of our lives. This is very Vincentian, as St Vincent de Paul was deeply devoted to the Providence of God, and he recommended that we accept all things by saying: “when something unexpected happens to us in body or mind, good or bad, we are to accept it without fuss as from God’s hand.” If we could live that ideal of St Vincent de Paul, we would have great peace in our lives. “In all circumstances, say: ‘It is the Lord.’”

Sharing the Mission

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April 7, 2013

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Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”


(Leader) Lord Jesus, give us the grace to listen to the Good Shepherd,

(Together) Give us the grace to always search for the will of God.

(Leader) For those who are lonely or overwhelmed,

(Together) May we bring them the Good Shepherd’s friendship.

(Leader) For all those who are poor and destitute,

(Together) May we bring them the Good Shepherd’s protection.

(Leader) For the sick and the dying,

(Together) May we bring them Good Shepherd’s healing love.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer

It is not so much in what sheep do, nor even what the shepherd does, that the key to understanding the message of Jesus is to be found. It is rather on the quality of the shepherd that we must center our attention: on his heart and mind rather than on his functions. Think of the occasions when our Lord spoke of the shepherd. The shepherd is one who protects; one who searchers; one who speaks and calls the sheep by name. The image was a favorite one of our Lord, because it conveyed to His hearers the idea of one who cares and who does not take flight when danger threatens. The shepherd protects, searches and speaks. This is what Jesus did. Given St Vincent de Paul’s sensitivity to fulfilling the will of God in the smallest details of his life, he might well ask us: Do you consistently search out the Will of God, not only in the crisis points of life, but day by day and hour by hour do you listen to hear his voice?

Sharing the Mission

How do you listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd in your conference?

DiscussionIn your visits/interviews this week, open your hearts to hear the stories of the people you serve in more depth.

Action


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When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.


We are all called to ‘love one another’. Take the time to thank one another for service to the Society and for the friendships that have grown from your conference membership.

Action

Vincentians are practical people. How does your conference find practical solutions to the issues you encounter?

Discussion Prayer

Jesus tells us “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” These words mean much to St Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and indeed to all members of the Society. There are millions who watch pictures of poverty on television screens and feel generous towards the poor. Their reaction, so often, goes no further than feeling. The St Vincent de Paul Society, however, imitates Jesus in that we are not content to feel generous, but we show your generosity at a particular time and place. The Society has always been recognised for its practical charity. In your service to others, take heart from the thought that you are indeed the disciples of Jesus!

Sharing the Mission

(Leader) For the grace to be the disciples of Jesus, we pray:

(Together) Grant us the grace to be kind and loving.

(Leader) For the poor we serve,

(Together) Grant us the grace to be non-judgmental.

(Leader) For the St Vincent de Paul Society,

(Together) Grant all members the spirit of Frederic and Vincent.

(Together) Amen.

April 21, 2013

Reflection 5 May 5, 2013

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Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him…I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”


In your visits this week, look beyond what appears to be the immediate need to discover the whole person.

Action

St Vincent de Paul was interested in feeding the hungry, visiting the prisoners, caring for the sick, educating the poor. But he was also intensely interested in helping people, particularly the poor, to be reconciled with God, to cherish their faith, and to be loyal to the Church. In one word, St Vincent de Paul was interested not only in the bodies of the poor, but in their souls also. He worked to nurture the whole person.

Sharing the Mission

How can your conference explore ways to better assist the people you serve?

Discussion(Leader) That we may always be your

faithful disciples,

(Together) Lord, send us your Spirit.

(Leader) That we may serve the whole person of the poor,


(Leader) That we may be open to receive your Advocate,


(Leader) That we may know that God is always present, dwelling within us,


(Together) Amen.

Prayer

Reflection 6 May 12, 2013May 5, 2013

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Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me….Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.


(Leader) Let us remember our needs and the needs of all people:

(Together) God our Father, hear our prayer.(Leader) For the Church, that she may radiate peace and joy,

(Together) God our Father, hear our prayer. (Leader) For all members of the Society who serve the poor in their need,

(Together) God our Father, hear our prayer. (Leader) For all those suffering from oppression and poverty,

(Together) God our Father, hear our prayer. (Together) Amen.

Prayer

The gospel of this Sunday affords us an opportunity to reflect on the self-surrender of giving ourselves over to God in the intimacy of prayer. Just as Jesus’ prayer reveals us as sharing in Jesus’ glory and unity with the Father, so will our own prayer reveal both our union with God and our union with each other. As Jesus was prompted in his prayer to look not to himself but to the well-being of his disciples, so does our prayer draw us out of ourselves toward God and concern for others.

Sharing the Mission

In your conference, are your opening and closing prayers central to the work of your meeting?

DiscussionConsider daily praying the Society prayers which have as their central focus God and your concern for others.

Action

Feature May 9, 2013

Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Text (Gospel Story) Luke 24:46-53

(Leader) Jesus was taken up in a cloud and reigns as Lord of heaven and earth and promising,

(Together) I am with you always, even to the end of time.

(Leader) We ask for balance in our lives between demands of service and prayer,

(Together) Jesus may you always be the center of our lives.

(Leader) We ask for strength to continue as your faithful disciples,


(Leader) We ask for the grace “to waste time” in prayer at our Conference meetings,


(Together) Amen.

Prayer

What other ways can your conference find to strengthen the place of prayer in your meetings?

Discussion Action

If we are to maintain vision in our lives; if we are to be men and women who worship God with our hearts, we must give attention to our prayer. To give attention to prayer means being ready to waste time, so to speak, in prayer. By wasting time in prayer means being ready to sit still in the presence of God, allowing His presence to seep into us and quietly challenge us. It is through prayer that we slowly make Jesus Christ increasingly a point of reference in our lives, for decisions great and small.

Sharing the Mission

At your next conference meeting spend a minute in silence after opening prayers and reflection to draw the strength and focus from the prayers.

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May 9, 2013

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Feature June 7, 2013

Act of Love to the Sacred Heart

Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine; the pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart and will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all my wrongdoing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.

Prayer

When we pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we try to make ourselves more conscious of the personal love which Jesus Christ has for each of us.

Jesus said to us: “This is my commandment - love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus had a very big heart. We know many big-hearted people. Devotion to the Sacred Heart means that we, in turn, must try to be big-hearted persons. When we think of generosity, we think of money, but there are many things other than money with which we can be generous. We can be generous in forgiving. We can be generous in trying to understand others. We can be generous with the time we give to others, and I am sure you can think of many other ways in which we can be generous to others. Jesus was generous with all that He had to give and he had little or no money.

Sharing the Mission

Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandment. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always. Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him…. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

Text (Gospel Story) John 14:15-16, 23-26

(Leader) Seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit, we pray,

(Together) Come, Holy Spirit

(Leader) That the winds of Pentecost may move us to deeds of love,


(Leader) That the fire of Pentecost may breathe new hope into the hopeless,


(Leader) That we may lead the poor to find their way to God,


(Together) Amen.

Prayer

One of the messages which the Church received from the Spirit of God at the Vatican Council II was that it should do more for the poor of the world. Over the past forty years the Church has increased her interest in the poor.

Sharing the Mission

Discuss your understanding of types of poverty.

Discussion

Consider visiting the new hands@work website for a list of services that may add to your conference resource list.

Action

Reflection 7 May 19, 2013

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Reflection 8 May 26, 2013May 19, 2013

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”


(Leader) O Holy Trinity, truly you are a God of mystery,

(Together) Give us hearts filled with reverence for You.

(Leader) Truly you are a God of majesty,

(Together) Give us hearts filled with humility before You.

(Leader) Truly you are a God of presence,

(Together) Give us hearts filled with awe.

(Leader) Truly you are a God of creative power,

(Together) Give us hearts filled with gratitude.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer

Gratitude is a good barometer of our spiritual condition. If you find that you are giving thanks to God frequently in your prayer, for big things and small; if you find yourself showing gratitude to others, your spiritual life is probably in a healthy condition. To give thanks is a sign of humility. If we are humble, we will certainly be in God’s favor and His love, and the most valuable gift we can offer to the poor, will be in our hearts. If we have a grateful heart, we will see everything as gifts of God. May God give us the grace to be grateful for everything He has given us and to show that gratitude by generosity to others and to the poor.

Sharing the Mission

In your service as conference members, share a story that has filled you with gratitude.

Discussion

This week thank someone in your life who offers support and love to you that enables you to serve the Society and those you assist.

Action

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The Twelve approached Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place.” He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” They numbered about five thousand. Then Jesus said, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.” They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.


(Leader) Jesus, you are the bread that fills the longing of our hearts,

(Together) May we be the sign of your love.

(Leader) Jesus, you are the wine that satisfies our thirst for holiness,

(Together) May we be the sign of your generosity.

(Leader) Jesus, your food strengthens us for the journey,

(Together) May we be the sign of your service.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer

Jesus was not only compassionate with his heart, but he was compassionate also with his hands, and he willed that the compassion should reach the people until the end of time. Before loving others, we must come to the realisation that we are at every moment of our lives being loved by God.

Sharing the Mission

In your service, how have you experienced God’s love and God’s generosity?

Discussion

This week, if you are passing a Vinnies Centre, drop in and say hello.

Action

Reflection 9 June 2, 2013

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Reflection 10 June 9, 2013June 2, 2013

Jesus went to a town called Naim, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he approached the gate of the town a dead man was being carried out, the only son of a widowed mother. A considerable crowd of townsfolk were with her. The Lord was moved with pity upon seeing her and said to her, “Do not cry.” Then he stepped forward and touched the litter; at this, the bearers halted. He said, “Young man, I bid you get up.” Then Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear seized them all and they began to praise God. “A great prophet has risen among us,” they said; and, “God has visited his people.” This was the report that spread about him throughout Judea and the surrounding country.


(Leader) Jesus, you call us to be your disciples,

(Together) May we be your true servants.

(Leader) Jesus, show us how to find time for silence and reflection,

(Together) Give us eyes to see your grace all around us.

(Leader) Jesus, give us the spirit of wonder,

(Together) So that we will know that “all is grace”.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer

No talk or address of St Vincent de Paul ever ended without some real, down-to-earth, practical advice, and so, following his own practice. Try to snatch more moments of reflection during the day, to cultivate silence of the heart, so that you may wonder at the grace of God that is all around us, like the air we breathe. In large measure it is the use we make of silence and reflection that makes us the sort of persons we are becoming. To dig continually in our lives is to have an assurance that the living water of God’s grace will keep springing up, especially when we need it to help those we serve.

Sharing the Mission

Vincentians are busy people, how do you find time for silence and reflection in your life?

Discussion

This week, make an extra effort to ensure time for quiet reflection in your personal prayer.

Action

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A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him. There was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, and she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you…Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more? Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” Jesus said, “You have judged rightly.”


Humility is a cornerstone of a Vincentian’s life. This week if you find yourself in a difficult situation, centre your mind on this virtue.

Action

Humility has a way of emptying our hearts of ourselves. If we are to love the Lord, if we are to make room in our hearts and in our minds for him, we must ask for the grace of humility. If we are to make room for those we serve, if they are to feel at home with us, as the poor woman did with Christ, then we must first ask for the grace of humility.

Sharing the Mission

As a conference, how do you make those you serve feel at home and able to share their story with you?

Discussion

(Leader) Jesus, Evangeliser of the Poor, you call us to be your disciples,


(Leader) Jesus, show us how to make the poor feel at home with us,

(Together) Give us eyes to see you in the broken and the poor.

(Leader) Jesus, give us the spirit of humility,

(Together) Make us true followers of St Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Frederic Ozanam.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer


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Reflection 12 June 23, 2013June 16, 2013

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”


(Leader) Jesus, Evangeliser of the Poor, you call us to be your disciples,


(Leader) Jesus, show us how to weep with those who weep,

(Together) Give us eyes to see you in the broken and the poor.

(Leader) Jesus, anoint us and give us your Spirit,

(Together) Make us true followers of Vincent and Frederic.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer

Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” to his disciples remains the fundamental question in every age. St Vincent de Paul answers this question by focusing on the missionary Christ. Vincent makes a clear choice. The vision he offers is not of Christ as teacher, nor as healer, nor as perfect adorer of the Father, nor as perfect image of the divinity but as “The Evangeliser of the Poor.” Vincent’s disciples are called to enter into the following of Christ in the very terms with which Jesus opens his public ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoner, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”

Sharing the Mission

As conference members you are given the grace to be invited into people’s lives. How do you practice humility in that invitation?

Discussion

This week in your visits/interviews make a special point of thanking the people you serve for sharing their story with you.

Action

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When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him…As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord let me go first and bury my father. But he answered, “Let the dead bury the dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home. To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plough and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”


Choose one family you assist and this week lift them to God during your personal prayer time.

Action

Jesus, on his way up to Jerusalem, sent, “messengers on ahead of Him.” If we are to be faithful messengers of Jesus Christ, we must have grasped well the message of God. The message of Christ is caught rather than taught. Our Lord always manifested the gentleness and humility that we his followers must try at all times to show. One cannot give a message to another person unless one knows clearly what the message is. So, too, with us who are messengers of God; we must be familiar with and know well what it is God wants to say through us.

Sharing the Mission

How does your presence as conference members represent the love of God to those you serve?

Discussion

(Leader) As disciples on the journey,

(Together) May we travel together in charity and service.

(Leader) As servants of the poor and one another,

(Together) May we reach out our hands in charity and service.

(Leader) As we bear each other’s joys and sorrows,

(Together) May we reach out our hearts in charity and service.

(Leader) As we daily embrace the call to greater intimacy with God,

(Together) May we reach out our souls in charity and service.

(Together) Amen.

Prayer


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June 30, 2013

Writer: St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Membership & Development Team

Design: Kellie Tabe, Intranet Coordinator, St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria

Cover image: The cross was painted by Amanda Gorey and given to the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria as a thank you for assisting some indigenous young people from Central Australia to attend the World Youth Day in Sydney. It hangs in the chapel at Gerald Ward House.

References: About.com Christianity (A Catholic website providing useful information and resources relating to the Christian calendar); Holy Bible, NRV, Catholic Edition, Harper Catholic Bibles; The Society of St Vincent de Paul Council of the United States, Vincentian Reflections, 2013; The Little Book of St Louise de Marillac, A Little Book Copy, 2005.

Acknowledgements

‘Our Story – Our Mission’ Vincentian Spiritual Reflections involve sharing the inspirational words and life of our Lord Jesus Christ, sharing the St Vincent de Paul Society story, as well as the discovery and sometimes the re-discovery of the mission that our Founder the Blessed Frederic Ozanam, his companions and which we also are sent on.

The reflections also invoke the discovery, sharing and celebration of the inspirational leaders within our St Vincent de Paul story and the legacy given to each of us by Blessed Frederic Ozanam, Blessed Rosalie Rendu, St Louise de Marillac, Father Gerald Ward and of course our Patron St Vincent de Paul.

The sharing of the story is continuing our journey, and how we respond to it is just as important as knowing the story. We respond to the story in many different ways. This includes prayer and action – action by serving those in need and action for a more compassionate and just society.

It is suggested that you allow 10 -15 minutes for the selected reflection at the start of your meeting.

Appoint a leader. It is suggested that the leader read the text followed by the mission story, then use the question(s) listed to prompt discussion and invite everyone to respond to what they have heard. As part of this discussion you may also wish to consider any images that accompany the reading.

You may also find that by using the questions listed they may prompt other questions for discussion, further deepening the richness of the conversation.

This sharing is at the heart of the Vincentian Spiritual Reflections. It is a sharing of the story.

At the end of the session conclude with collective prayer led by the leader.

Blessed Frederic Ozanam

turns 200 on April 23rd 2013

We encourage our members to continue to pray for the canonisation of our founder.

PRAYER FOR THE CANONISATION OF BLESSED FREDERIC OZANAM in view of the obtaining of a miracle through his intercession

O Lord,

You made Blessed Frederic Ozanam an Apostle of the Gospel in a wonderful way within the mystery of the Church and beyond.

You opened his mind and heart to the injustice and misery which were prevalent in his time and you endowed him with an inner energy expressed in generous service to anyone in distress, the poor and people without faith. You gave him the vision of a network of charity and social justice encircling the world.

Within his family, he revealed a most genuine love as a son, a brother, a husband and a father.

In the secular world, he was a herald of the truth, in his career as a teacher and journalist.

Within our Society he promoted the spirituality of St Vincent de Paul, one of strong and creative love, of gentleness and humility, simplicity and zeal.

He lived too short a time but the radiance of his holiness shone through all these aspects of his life.

For all this we thank You, Father, and we ask You, through his intercession, to grant us the blessing of a miracle and if this be your will, to allow the Church to recognise his holiness. May his life be an inspiring example and bear fruit throughout the world.

We implore you to grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!

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Our Story - Our Mission | Vincentian Spiritual Reflection April-June 2013

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