2009 Theme: Vincentian Transformation:
Changing Hearts, Creating Peace
January 25-31, 2009
“The inspirations of God are gentle and peaceful, inclining us
lovingly toward the good.”
– St. Vincent de Paul
2009 is the 15th annual Founder’s Week celebration at St. John’s
University and the Church year of St. Paul, Apostle to the
Gentiles. St. Paul (+ circa 67 A.D.) is a model of transformation
and transforming, as was St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660). St. Paul,
after his famous conversion on the road to Damascus is attributed
with leading one of the greatest transformations. His zeal carried
Christianity to the farthest parts of the world at that time. He
preached and wrote the message of the life, death and resurrection
of Jesus to all in the early Christian community. Christianity, its
beliefs and practices became a major influence on western
civilization.
After the “change of heart” of St. Vincent de Paul on the feast of
the “Conversion of St. Paul” (January 25), Vincent’s view of the
world was transformed from an egocentric preoccupation to concern
for “the other” –a worldview rooted firmly in the God-given dignity
of every person. Vincent became focused on the spiritual and
material needs of the people who were poor and made invisible by
the powerful of the society. At the funeral of St. Vincent de Paul,
the homilist stated, “Vincent changed the face of France”.
Vincent was declared to be the “Patron of Charitable Endeavors”
because of the many sustainable organizations he created to bring
healing and loving care to the least, the lost and the left out
people in society. Many of these organizations—the Congregation of
the Mission, the Daughters of Charity, the Confraternities of
Charity (later becoming the “Ladies of Charity”), exist today along
with hospitals, orphanages, prisons and other models of care of the
vulnerable. Other changes in the world have been inspired by the
followers of Vincent such as Frederic Ozanam, founder of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 1833 in whose writings we find
the seeds of modern Catholic social thought.
Allowing God’s love to transform us, living lives of virtue,
working zealously to heal hearts and to alleviate poverty, will
reconcile individuals, families, communities, and create peace in
the world. Founder’s Week 2009 urges the St. John’s community to
become the transformers needed in the 21st century.