CHARISM
Thoughts from the FInal Documents of General Assembly of the Congregation
of the Mission (1998) of possible interest to those exploring the Vincentian
Charism.
For the context in which these statements appeared get the full text
at http://www.famvin.org/finaldoc/final_document.htm
There is also some wonderful material on Fr. Maloney's presentation to the
Vincentian Family.
See especially his talk on the Vincentian
Family as Missionary
This material is alaso available in spanish (and french) at www.famvin.org
“In this General Assembly, we engaged, for the first time, in a week
of discussion, 9-14 July, with 33 leaders and members of various groups of
the Vincentian Family. We, the members of the assembly, learned much from them,
and
recognize how much we need to collaborate in the service of the poor.”
“Together with the other members of the Vincentian Family, we experience
the call to actualize the forms of the mission for our own times, when the
relationship between evangelization and human promotion is especially important.”
“The vitality of the Vincentian charism does not belong exclusively
to the Congregation of the Mission. “
“Solicitude for the poor, in the following of Christ, belongs to the
very heart of the Gospel and is a sign of Christian authenticity and of belonging
to the community of Jesus’ disciples. Many persons and groups that are
part of the Vincentian Family give expression to this prophetic power today.”
“We are convinced that throughout the world, the Vincentian Family
shares the same desire to live faithfully in the following of Jesus Christ,
the evangelizer
of the poor. During the course of our assembly, we experienced this joyful
reality. Together with us, the members of the Congregation of the Mission,
many other
persons and groups are working in the Church, the Family of God, and are on
fire with the same enthusiasm and the same zeal which animates us.”
“In the spirit of communion and participation, we in the Vincentian
Family, like the Church as a whole, are convinced that the central role of
the laity
is irreplaceable in the process of evangelization. The needs of the poor are
enormous. All members of the Vincentian Family have to proclaim the Gospel
together and work against all forms of poverty.”
“When, together with other members of the Vincentian Family, we share
in the life and goals of the poor, we will discover the presence of the Spirit
of the Lord who renews us to speak with them, listen to them, and consider
them as the agents of their own way to liberation. Then we can let ourselves
be evangelized
by them.”
“If we work in unison with the other members of the Vincentian Family,
we can be a more effective force for evangelization and works of charity and
justice in today's world. We will also strengthen the bonds that link us to
one another. “
“As we work together we also wish to respect the autonomy and identity
of each group and individual within the Vincentian Family. “
“We recognize, as members of the Congregation of the Mission, the need
for a change of heart if we are to collaborate generously with other members
of the Vincentian Family and so recognize the gifts and talents of others in
promoting the reign of God. “
“For these reasons we commit ourselves to:
a. create the conditions for collaboration with members of the Vincentian
Family by:
b. set up structures to coordinate what is already taking place,
or will take place at local provincial, interprovincial
and international levels,
so that
the different levels complement one another and
subsidiarity is respected. “
c .plan specific projects at local, provincial,
interprovincial and international levels to respond
to the cries of the poor in
our day in partnership
with other members of the Vincentian Family and
with the poor themselves;”
“Today, the many branches of the Vincentian Family
draw from this common heritage and so are able to nourish
one another
in their efforts at formation.
At the same time, each group in the family has understood
him from its own experience and so has a unique wisdom
about him
to hand
down to its own members. “
“The formation program of one group can enrich
other groups while still continuing to form its own
members in its
individual
tradition.”
The Congregation of the Mission desires to collaborate
in common formation projects, while respecting the
autonomy of
the different
branches as
they go about forming their own. “
