This little blog will be published on the first day of September 2018. If you are reading it you probably know that September is a month full of important feast days for Vincentians. The Blessed Virgin Mary, our patroness has many feast days; September has three that are notable: September 8 – the Birth of Mary, September 12 – The Holy Name of Mary and September 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows. Our principal founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s feast day is September 9 and our patron, St. Vincent de Paul’s feast is celebrated on September 27. That’s a lot of feast days!

As members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul we honour our patron saints and we try to learn from them by learning more about them. We ask their intercession as we struggle along in our mission of charity. All this we do with love and joy for they truly inspire and strengthen us.

However there is a danger that we can make our September more of a history lesson than an inspiration to carry on in the name of Jesus and our patron saints. It is important that I, as a Vincentian use what I learn to move onward. My formation and the formation of my conference depend on this.

I was reading ‘A New Century Dawns’ by Robert P. Maloney C.M. Chapter 4: Priscilla and Aquila Set Out Again – The importance of the Laity within the Church and the Vincentian Family contained this selection which stood out to me:

One of my deepest hopes is that the lay Catholic of the 21st century will not only be well-educated, but well-formed too. Our future lay Catholics will receive formation especially in their homes, but also in Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and youth groups. Others will have journeyed for years in groups like the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

That last sentence: “Others will have journeyed for years in…. the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. That’s me! I am one who has been, and still is journeying and learning and being formed. My Vincentian calling, and yours, is one of formation.

Don’t get me wrong. September is still a month to remember our saints and founders and to share their stories. But can we ask that they intercede, not only in our work but in our continued formation? My personal prayer: Denise