Acts 2:1-4

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

This scene at Pentecost brings people together, the apostles were given the gift of speech so that they could communicate with people from different backgrounds. This was the beginning of the Church, and a definition of church is a place that welcomes people who wish to be part of it.

The Society brings together people from different backgrounds united by our shared mission. We can recall the words of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam which remind us of our call to come together as one.

On the contrary, like divergent spokes touching the same centre, so our varied efforts tending toward diverse ends come together in one and the same charitable mind and proceed from the same principle. There must then be agreement among us in order to double our strength. There must be frequent communications which provide us a laudable example for good and render us a common joy in the success of each one. Frédéric Ozanam (A Life in Letters, p56)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit and the example of Blessed Frédéric call us to be creative and to find ways to connect all of our Vincentian family to our shared story and our identity as a lay Catholic organisation driven by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. The Vincentian Way is one way that has been developed to help all of those in leadership have a shared understanding of our mission and ways to express this in all that we do. 

In his homily at his inauguration, Pope Leo XIV spoke about his mission which is to build love and unity in the Church. These themes are also relevant for us in the Society. In this spirit let us work together to build a shared understanding of our mission, values and identity so that we strengthen the Society and ensure that we are faithful to our rich heritage. R

Sister Therese Haywood DC is a Daughter of Charity and Spiritual Adviser to St Vincent de Paul Society.