Experiences With Persons Living in Poverty

Vincentian Moments

Vincentians often gather to reflect on the lessons, sorrows, and miracles that occur in the course of their experiences with people living in poverty. As Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, CM describes it so well, “Vincentian formation doesn’t begin with a classroom, or a book, or a lecture. The philosophy of Vincentian formation is a “GO-THEN” philosophy. Go serve them, then come back and talk about it. Go serve them, then begin to ask what works and what doesn’t work. Go serve them, then begin to figure out why they (and others like them) are poor in such a wealthy society. Go serve them, then begin to ask others who serve them how they keep serving over the years. The best learning happens when it’s grounded in real life and real questions.” By sharing those humorous stories, characters we’ve met, things we’ve done along the way– that’s when we realize that we may have experienced a “Vincentian moment”. These moments are abundant, and are the primary way that we teach one another and support one another.



Quotes

“It’s the poor who make you a Vincentian. It happens when they let you into their lives.”
-Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, CM

“The loneliness of homelessness can get really intense. I had no street skills, and no one to talk to.” -from “The Edge” by Robert Waldrop

“When we go to visit the poor we should so identify with them that we share their sufferings…Ask this grace of God, my brothers, that he may give us this spirit of compassion and mercy, and that he may so fill us with it that as soon as anyone sees a missionary, he immediately will think, there goes a person full of compassion. Think for a moment of how much we ourselves stand in need of mercy, we who must exercise it towards others. We must bring this mercy everywhere, and endure everything for the sake of compassion.” -St. Vincent, Abelly, 3:118.


Source: Holtschneider Back to top




Shared Stories

St. Vincent de Paul Society Sharing Their Stories
St. Vincent de Paul Society Sharing Their Stories
Señora Laura: A Vincentian Story
Señora Laura: A Vincentian Story
Vincentian Virtues in Action: Bill’s Story
Vincentian Virtues in Action: Bill’s Story
Story– Vincentian Virtues in Action
Story– Vincentian Virtues in Action
Ladies of Charity: Serving With Vincentian Creativity
Ladies of Charity: Serving With Vincentian Creativity
Shared Story: Forgiveness Will Save Your Life #IamVincent
Shared Story: Forgiveness Will Save Your Life #IamVincent
Shared story of a volunteer: Healthcare for Homeless #IamVincent @DePaulMission
Shared story of a volunteer: Healthcare for Homeless #IamVincent @DePaulMission
If #IamVincent can I be a Spectator?
If #IamVincent can I be a Spectator?
Dr. Allen Hunt Talks to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, USA
Dr. Allen Hunt Talks to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, USA
Story of a Home Visit from St. Vincent de Paul Society of Australia
Story of a Home Visit from St. Vincent de Paul Society of Australia
Story from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Louis
Story from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Louis
Extravagant Love: The Sisters of Charity
Extravagant Love: The Sisters of Charity
Sister Sharen Baldy, SCN: Seeing Christ in Our Neighbors Living in Poverty
Sister Sharen Baldy, SCN: Seeing Christ in Our Neighbors Living in Poverty
In Their Own Words – Those Helped By St. Vincent de Paul Society
In Their Own Words – Those Helped By St. Vincent de Paul Society
Fighting for Unheard Voices
Fighting for Unheard Voices
Extreme Poverty is Violence
Extreme Poverty is Violence
Transforming Lives: More Stories of the Homeless and Working Poor
Transforming Lives: More Stories of the Homeless and Working Poor
What is Our Mission? A Story
What is Our Mission? A Story
Keep Going Back: A Story
Keep Going Back: A Story
Personal Story – St. Vincent’s Orphanage in Chicago
Personal Story – St. Vincent’s Orphanage in Chicago
SVDP Society Volunteers Tell Their Stories
SVDP Society Volunteers Tell Their Stories
Apostolic Reflection (described by a Daughter of Charity)
Apostolic Reflection (described by a Daughter of Charity)
You Could Make a Difference
You Could Make a Difference
It’s the Poor Who Make You a Vincentian
It’s the Poor Who Make You a Vincentian
Evangelized by Those We Serve
Evangelized by Those We Serve
Transforming Lives: Stories of the Homeless and Working Poor
Transforming Lives: Stories of the Homeless and Working Poor
The Edge
The Edge
Making a Difference
Making a Difference
Vincentian Family Gathering – Detroit, April 2009: Reflections
Vincentian Family Gathering – Detroit, April 2009: Reflections

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