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May the grace and peace of Christ be with you.
As we prepare to observe All Souls’ Day and reflect on the family and friends who have gone before us, we also pause in gratitude to remember the lives and ministries of our deceased Vincentian priests and brothers of the Eastern Province, both here in the U.S. and the region of Panama. May their faithful example continue to inspire all of us our to preach the Gospel anew and serve our communities with humility and love.
In these days leading up to the midterm elections in the U.S., we are bombarded by political advertisements that can leave us fatigued. Yet, Vincentians are reminded that we're called to bring our passion for the Gospel and social justice directly into civic life. Voting gives us a concrete way to advocate for systemic change and amplify the voices of those on the margins. To those with the privilege and civic duty to vote in this election, let us carry with us the faces of the struggling families, unhoused neighbors, immigrants, and economically marginalized communities we accompany every day. Look beyond partisan rhetoric and ground our choices firmly in Catholic Social Teaching. Let us approach election day with prayer, thoughtful reflection, and courage, using our voice to champion the well-being of the marginalized, protect human dignity, eradicate poverty, and foster the common good.
At the end of this week, I will travel to the Mother House in Paris to lead the opening conferences for the International Formation Center (CIF) program for missionaries, parish priests, and collaborators. The themes I will impart center on several dimensions of our missionary identity today: inculturation and interculturality, learning from indigenous mission and theology, walking together in synodality, and embracing integral ecology as a fundamental response to the cries of the earth and the poor. As we gather to listen, discern, and deepen our shared Vincentian charism, I ask that you keep all the participants and the formation team in your prayers.
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