VMP

Fr Gregory’s Lenten Letter

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:37 +0000

My brothers and sisters, the reflection on non-violence is very much a part of our tradition as Catholic Christians and very much at the heart of what Lent means to us. We focus on the need to change our attitudes in order to live more deeply the life that has been given us in the person of Jesus Christ and through his passion, his death and his resurrection. At the very heart of that gift of new life is fragility…………..(more) ……. Our God, the God of Jesus Christ, is a God of Life and a God of Love. God pours out that love continually in and through the gift of his resurrection which we celebrate at the culmination of the Lenten Season. Let us never forget that the resurrection is who we are. We are a resurrection people, and Alleluia is our song. So let us sing, and let us do so as a family, together with our brothers and sisters who are poor. Your brother in Saint Vincent, G. Gregory Gay, CM (Superior General)

Click to download Lenten letter 2010

Sanctuary Pledge Campaign

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:51:35 +0000

Britain has a proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing from persecution and tyranny. That tradition is under threat.
CITIZENS for Sanctuary, backed by the Vincentian Family and other faith communities, have developed the Sanctuary Pledge in response. They are calling on ordinary citizens – like YOU – to convince your political representatives to sign the Sanctuary Pledge at the 2010 General Election.

Please help us to rebuild support for sanctuary by joining the campaign at: www.sanctuarypledge.org.uk.

Justice Day

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:36:48 +0000

The VMP Justice Group is holding a one day conference on the 6^th of March for anyone who is interested in justice work. The aim of the day is to give Vincentians the knowledge, skills and confidence to become more involved in campaigning on behalf of vulnerable people. Please see flyer for all the details. Final VMP Justice Day Flyer

VMP Quarterly Newsletter

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:00:09 +0000

The VMP Newsletter is published 4 times per year. Click below for a selection of back copies in pdf format.

Daughters of Charity – 150 years in London

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:19:07 +0000

On 19 July 1859, Cardinal Wiseman celebrated Mass with the Daughters of Charity in the attic of their first house in York Street, London. 150 years later, on 19 July 2009, Archbishop Vincent Nichols concelebrated Mass with Daughters of Charity, staff, friends and members of the Vincentian Family at the St Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, Westminster.

Following the Mass, there was a special reception and lunch, after which a group of Sisters took a coach trip around London to visit the sites of some of their earliest houses and projects.

During his homily, Fr Fergus Kelly CM, spoke of the difficult conditions the first Sisters encountered when they came to London. There was terrific anti-Catholic, anti-Irish and anti-French prejudice in England at the time, he explained. Just ten years earlier there had been the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy and MPs were so concerned about the increasing freedom being given to Catholics, they passed the Ecclesiastical Titles Act in 1851, banning Catholic bishops from claiming the same bishoprics as the Church of England.

In response to public concern that Catholics wanted to take over Westminster Abbey, Cardinal Wiseman brought out a pamphlet explaining that he had no interest in that ’splendid beautiful building’. Rather, he said, he coveted the countless poor people, living in conditions of wretched squalor and disease in the labyrinth of lanes and courts in Westminster.

Beginning with one small house, the Sisters went on to establish more than 50 projects in London, among them schools, hostels, hospitals and orphanages. Today their work with the poor continues to thrive across the capital as well as around the UK. Their flagship centre, The Passage, in Carlisle Place, is now the largest homeless project in London, offering food, clothing, medical care, shelter, support and advice to thousands of people each year.

Archbishop Nichols said that while the Sisters’ first Superior in London Sr Marie Chatelaine, had faced hostile shouts and boys throwing stones at her when she first arrived, when she died 46 years later, crowds came out to pay their respects as her hearse was taken through the streets to the church for her funeral.

New 350th Blog

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:07:53 +0000

The 350th blog has now gone live! So check it out for news of all the upcoming events to mark this special year.

http://350th.blogspot.com/

New VMP Staff Team

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:49:50 +0000

Since it began nine years ago the task of running the VMP has fallen on the shoulders of its Director, helped and supported by volunteers. The trustees of the VMP, representing all branches of the Family, have long realised that the VMP needs a proper infrastructure if it is to continue growing and being of service to the Vincentian Family. In April two new members of staff were recruited and employed: Emily Casson as a full-time Policy and Campaigns Co-ordinator and Sr Teresa Ryden RSCJ as a part-time Administrator. If you are in contact with the office say hello to them and tell them about your branch of the Family and what you do.

Photo L to R: Emily, Sr Maureen DC and Sr Teresa RSCJ

350th Pilgrimage to Paris

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:36:45 +0000

2010 marks the 350th anniversary of the deaths of St Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac.
Special events are being held internationally, nationally and locally.

350th Pilgrimage to Paris: 16-19 April 2010
In the Footsteps of Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, Frédéric Ozanam, Catherine Labouré
4 days/3 nights; travel by coach and ferry; ensuite room and continental B&B
Cost: £260 pp shared and £335 pp single
Download Booking Form

Justice Campaigning

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:41:59 +0000

11,125 signatures were collected by members of the Vincentian Family for the VMP Petition asking for the compassionate treatment of the asylum seekers in Britain. This petition was presented in the House of Commons by Rt Hon John Battle MP (Leeds West) on 23rd April 2009. Read the full text in Hansard.