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Working, Praying, and Living in the Spirit of Vincent DePaul
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December 2003
Each year, the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers enter into a covenant with one another. Throughout the month of September, they discuss how they will work, pray, and live in the spirit of Vincent. We ask them to write their covenant in its final form by September 27th, the feast of St. Vincent DePaul. Please take a moment to read the covenant of the 2003-2004 Gateway Vincentian Volunteers.
Covenant
We, the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers of 2003-2004, commit to building a community dedicated to recognizing the face of God in all people. Together we will explore issues of social injustice and work with open and humble hearts towards realizing the kingdom of God. We will make concerted efforts to support each other in spirit, mind, and body. We will work towards discerning the role of God in our lives based upon our Catholic faith.
As a community, we will:
• Gather together and share prayer weekly.
• Strive to improve our personal relationship with God.
• Create a nurturing environment to promote spiritual growth.
• Commit to regularly celebrate the Eucharist as a community.
• Embody the spirit of St. Vincent and St. Louise by working in
solidarity with the poor.
• Devote ourselves to a life of simplicity, depending on and trusting
in God.
• Participate in social justice activities monthly.
• Embrace our differences, while recognizing our oneness in Christ.
• Address conflict openly and in a spirit of forgiveness.
• Value laughter and fun.
The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program
Board of Directors
Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., President
Mr. Rich LaPlume,
Vice-President
Fr. Tom Esselman, C.M., Secretary
Ms. Tricia Theil, Treasurer
Honorable Mike Burton
Mr. John Capellupo
Fr. David Nations, C.M.
Mr. Ted Fiedler
Sr. Kieran Kneaves, D.C.
Ms. Martha Lane
Mr. Bill McRoberts
Dr. Fred Rottnek
Mrs. Sue Shine
Jim and Geri Ryan, Directors, ex-officio members of board
Board meetings are held at 6:00 P.M. on the first Monday every other month.
To support the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program, the Board has planned several Special Events. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The first GVV “No Frills!” Golf Tournament, Sunday, May 16, 2004, at Grand Marais Golf Course. $75.00 to play with barbecue following. To reserve your spot, contact Fr. David Nations, C.M. at 771-1835 ex. 136 or email Jim and Geri Ryan at gatevol@aol.com.
The second annual GVV Picnic at the Schicker Farm in early June. Exact date and details to come!
“Fool for Christ,” a one-woman dramatic presentation on the life of Dorothy Day, March 10, 2005 (matinee), and March 11, 2005 (evening), at St. Catherine Laboure Church. More details to come!
An Essay
by Brian Kelly
Brian’s volunteer placement is at Covenant House Missouri, an agency that provides a variety of services to at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth, ages 16-21.
“God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.” Thomas Merton
I am a deeply religious person. I believe I should qualify that statement, however. I have never belonged to a bible study, nor any real small-faith group. My church attendance has been spotty, at best, and I would be lying if I did not admit to a small amount of disdain for some of the practices and philosophies of certain members of the Church’s hierarchy and its history. And yet, I hold fast to my “religious” moniker.
Any attempt to define religion is problematic. Everyone brings a predisposition to the argument that is not representative of the whole of humanity throughout history. In Hinduism, everything that is, is divine. Therefore, everything, truly everything, has a religious significance. Buddhism denies the existence of a transcendent creator-deity in favor of an indefinable, nonpersonal, absolute source that can be experienced as the depth of human inwardness. Christianity, with it’s pursuit of ultimate truth through the expression of spiritual and physical redemption, as defined by a particular example, differs greatly from both of these pursuits.
But do these three examples of what is an almost infinite continuum
of spirituality differ fundamentally? What is the essence of religion?
Should it be defined philosophically, phenomenologically, or theologically?
Maybe it should be examined functionally, as it exists somewhere in the
crossroads of sociology and culture.
I believe that religion in its purest sense represents mankind’s
practices in an effort to come closer to something greater than itself.
Religion seems an intrinsic part of the human experience. Thomas Aquinas
purports that the knowledge of God is possible for every person because
it arises from the recognition of the effects of God’s action in
the world. That religion is a “potential part” of the virtue
of justice, the essence of justice being to render to another his or her
due.
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is
the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets. (Matt. 22:36–40)
As disappointing as it may be, this statement wasn’t as revelatory
as one might think. Jesus is quoting directly from the Shema, the prayer
recited every morning and every night by Jews that loving God be “written
on the heart.” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
is taken directly from the Book of Leviticus.
What is so incredible about this statement however is that the two concepts
are given equal billing. You can not love God and, at the same time, hold
hatred in your heart for even one person. To love God is to love your
neighbor.
I live in a faith that urges me to seek truth. I have chosen to undertake that task in the Vincentian charism this year, in service to the poor. When I was presented with the opportunity, it seemed a logical course. My religion calls me to love, and work towards justice. As the church itself writes:
“All nations are one community and have one origin, because God caused the whole human race to dwell on the whole face of the earth. They also have one final end, God, whose providence, manifestation of goodness and plans for salvation are extended to all, until the elect be gathered together in the holy city which the bright light of God will illuminate and where the people will walk in his light.” (Nostra Aetate, pg. 968)
I see a clear message here. It is not the act, it is not the desire, it is not even the belief, it is to love, which encompasses each of those and infinitely more completely. However I choose to practice, the act of religion is when we deliberately reach out toward God. To become closer to him, to live a life as I believe he would want me, and as I believe he would himself. This love calls me to act in compassion, mercy and justice. Love may permit us to give more than justice could require, but justice demands that we must never give less than due. All of us are called to this, in all things.
“Love, and do what you will. If you keep silence, keep silence
in love; if you speak, speak in love; if you correct, correct in love;
if you forbear, forbear in love. Let love’s root be within you,
for from that root nothing but good can spring.”
St. Augustine
I have chosen to love. I strive to do so completely, and in doing so,
I believe that I act in accordance of God’s will. I will work for
justice, peace and mercy, because in all these things I work for love.
I do not know what the road will look like, but I believe that I am on
it currently, even if it is at its very beginning.
When religion is looked at as a whole, objectively and without bias, it
is impossible to give any one more credence than another. All are methods
by which we express our most fundamental relationship with reality, when
we hold it with faith, that there is more to reality than what meets the
eye. The second Vatican Council admitted that even an atheist can, without
realizing it, through commitment to love and justice, be oriented to God.
In the end, none of us have the answer. So we are left with the question, what should I do? I have found my answer here, and it was a wonderful, completely unexpected revelation that I beheld in the discarded youth of South city St. Louis. I choose to love and seek justice. I pray that God is pleased.
McBrien, Richard P., Catholicism. 1996. HarperSanFrancisco, New York, NY
McCoy, Alban, An Intelligent Person’s Guide to Catholicism. 2001. Continuum, New York, NY
Mercer, Herbert, “The Principals of Love and Justice Contrasted”. 1994. www.agsconsulting.com
Thanks to Jeremy Dixon for his timely inclusion of the Thomas Merton quote
in my experience, without which this essay would never have happened.
Taking Up the Challenge
by Amy Arendt
I’ve called myself quite a few things in my life: little sister, high schooler, waitress, college student, etc. But none have received such a reaction as my current status: full-time volunteer.
I began telling my family and friends last May about my decision to leave Texas and become a full-time volunteer in St. Louis, Missouri. I received some gasps, several chuckles, a pat-on-the-back or two, and quite a few concerned faces. More than anything, though, people wanted to know “WHY?!?”
I wasn’t so great at answering that question, probably because I wasn’t exactly sure myself. All I could say was that I felt God calling me to a year of service—to open my heart to give and receive His light and love, to grow in holiness and faith, and to increase my trust in Him.
That was—and is—my challenge each day.
I work at Our Lady’s Inn, an emergency shelter for pregnant women and their children located in south St. Louis. It is truly a beautiful and amazing ministry. A total of 82 moms and 110 babies and children resided at the Inn last year. I have various responsibilities there—transporting residents to and from appointments, childcare, tutoring, answering phones, sorting donations, and whatever else needs to be done. I see Christ at work each day in the staff, the residents, and in other volunteers like me.
It’s not always easy, though.
Some days I am moved to sadness, compassion, or even tears as my heart goes out to people. Just last week, I spoke with a woman on the phone needing shelter. Her voice was so strong yet desperate as she explained to me her situation: she was six months pregnant, homeless, and living under a bridge downtown. She had absolutely no place to go, and every shelter was telling her they were full.
It’s hard to wrap your head around it sometimes—the immense hurt and suffering I see in the women and children. But Christ’s light and love is equally present in them as well.
The Inn is also full of so many moments of joy.
I love the eagerness of the children to give love and affection, especially
in their hugs. Watching a mother proudly come home with her beautiful
newborn baby is priceless. It’s remarkable to witness the excitement
of a family moving out of the shelter and into their own home.
I could go on and on with stories of hope.
But back to the question at hand: “WHY be a full-time volunteer?”
The best way I can answer is that it is the path that the Lord wants me to follow. Those who know me know of my great love for our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. Two summers ago at World Youth Day in Toronto, it seemed as though he was giving me a challenge. During his homily he said, “The world which you are inheriting is a world which desperately needs a new sense of brotherhood and human solidarity. It is a world which needs to be touched and healed by the beauty and richness of God’s love. It needs witnesses to that love. It needs you—to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
And, thus, I was led from my comfortable home in Texas to the inner city of St. Louis, to serve the poor and homeless, the women and children of Our Lady’s Inn, and to have my heart transformed in ways I never thought possible.
Meeting the Faces of Christ
by Jennifer Leon
Moving to Saint Louis has been a big adjustment for me. I taught sixth grade for three years at a Catholic school in Birmingham, Alabama. I was very excited and anxious as the time drew closer for me to come here. I knew, somewhat, what I would be in for, but what I have gotten out of the four short months that I have been here has been amazing!
I work at Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic Church doing a variety of jobs. My main work is with the organization Let’s Start, a support group for women coming out of prison. I knew that I would be involved with this program and was very excited about it. I had been involved in Kairos Prison Ministry in Alabama. I was part of a team who ministered to an all-male correctional facility. The men of the team went on the inside to minister and I was part of a support team who worked on the outside, writing letters, cooking meals, and supporting and praying for the team and participants. The highlight of this experience was the last day of the weekend when I was allowed to visit the prison for the Kairos program.
I feel that this experience and knowledge has helped to prepare me for
the job I have now. I love working with the women of Let’s Start.
It is very inspiring to me to see how these women have turned their lives
around and started anew. We meet every Tuesday night for our support group.
Part of my job includes calling the women before and following-up after
group. I try to stay in contact with them to let them know that we care
and that they can always feel comfortable with us. Their stories are inspiring
as well as humbling. I realize that I could be in their position.
As well as working with the Let’s Start program, I am privileged
to feed the homeless lunch on Mondays. We have a sandwich window where
they come and get a nice lunch. Before I started doing this, I was scared
to death. I had never encountered this population of people before. All
I knew were the negatives from the media and hearsay. As I began to work
the window, I found that these people were “humans.” I was
able to put a face and a personality to this group of people I only knew
as statistics. It is a growing experience for me. Now, I hate to miss
Mondays. I have gotten to know many of the people that I serve and look
forward to seeing them and asking how things have been going. I love having
“real” conversations with them about everyday situations in
their lives.
The children that I work with in Learning Club are great as well! This is an after-school tutoring program for children in grades K-8. Most of the children are from the Clinton-Peabody housing projects near the church. I did not realize how much I would miss teaching and my students before moving here. I love children and always learn something new from them. I also love the opportunity to work on all grade levels with the students. There is never a dull moment, and I like it that way.
My experience here has been amazing. I cannot wait to see what the rest
of the year holds. I am learning so much about myself and growing as a
person in many ways. I am grateful for my time here and look forward to
my next seven months.
Are you interested in supporting one Gateway Vincentian Volunteer during his or her year of service? Would your parish or organization like to help?
Please let us know.
Thank you!
314-771-1474 888-771-7220 gatevol@aol.com
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Gateway Vincentian Volunteers
2912 Arsenal Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) - 771-1474
Toll free: (888)-771-7220
Fax: (314) - 771-2410
email: gatevol@aol.com