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The Well: Formation and Spirituality Video Library

The Well: Formation and Spirituality Video Library 150 150 Tim Williams

The Society has published many books and documents for purchase or download, but there are also many videos available for personal enrichment, or to share at Conference or Council Meetings.

Spirituality and Formation Channel

On the Society’s Vimeo pages, there is a special channel for videos related to Spirituality and Formation. There are almost fifty videos there, and they are well worth reviewing to find videos of special interest to you or your Conference. We’ll highlight just a few of them below.

Pro-Tip: if you don’t have a reliable Wi-Fi connection in your meeting room, you can download any of these videos onto your computer in advance. On the screen below the video you’ve chosen, look for the download icon (indicated here with a red arrow) and click it to download. 

Fred Talks

Fred Talk videos are only three to five minutes long, and each covers a single topic, such a one of the Vincentian Virtues. They make a nice change of pace for reflections at your Conference meetings, by watching them together and then discussing. You’ll notice throughout the videos there are text pop-ups indicating reference sources for the materials discussed. These are for members who may wish to take a deeper dive on their own.

Retreats

There are several recorded retreats. These are typically longer videos (about an hour) that you can play, with several pauses to discuss and share what you’ve seen. These include The Faces of Christ, Turn Everything to Love, as well as talks such as Laying Down Your Life for a Friend. These longer form videos can save you a lot of preparation time in planning your own retreat. Be sure to think through prayers for the group to say together, prompting questions to help facilitate sharing, and other parts of the retreat, such as Mass, snacks, or meals.

Training and Instruction

Now that we’ve mentioned planning a retreat, would it be nice if there were a video on How to Plan a Spiritual Retreat? You’re in luck – there is! There are also videos on Formation Planning, and the Spirituality of Vincent and Frédéric.

There is a long list of videos to choose from on our channel, and more will continue to be added. Be sure to bookmark the page and check back often. Those videos are for you and for your Conferences and Councils!

The Well: Refresh – Renew – Refuel – Reflect

The Well: Refresh – Renew – Refuel – Reflect 150 150 Tim Williams

By Marge McGinley, National Vincentian Formation Committee Chair

Some people say that summer slows down a little but really summer offers us different choices, especially if Our Lord has led us to work in Formation. Most of our workshops where we spend time teaching and hopefully inspiring our Vincentians to grow in holiness as they minister to our neighbors in need, are conducted during the school year. As Conference members we continue to care for our neighbors in need but also take those opportunities to spend time with family and friends and hopefully take a little time off or away.

Instead of teaching the Ozanam Orientation on a Saturday, perhaps you’ve been invited to a picnic. Instead of running a webinar during a weekday evening, maybe you’re sitting by a pool, lake or ocean. Just the thoughts are refreshing. When we have time to pause our activities, the Holy Spirit can lead us where He needs us most. Our minds can clear, and creativity can heighten. Taking time for ourselves also helps prevent compassion fatigue therefore, never even approaching burnout.

Taking good care of ourselves allows us to do God’s work longer in our lives. When we are compassionate people, every situation and every person whom we encounter, impacts us. That can take a toll over time. So, let’s look a little deeper into all the “re-“words in the title of this article.

Bl. Frédéric teaches us that “the poor we see with the eyes of the flesh; they are there and we can put finger and hand in their wounds and the scars of the crown of thorns are visible on their foreheads…and we should fall at their feet and say with the Apostle, Tu est Dominus et Deus meus. You are our masters, and we will be your servants. You are for us the sacred images of that God whom we do not see, and not knowing how to love Him otherwise shall we not love Him in your persons?”

What can we do to stay capable to “share more love” with God’s people?

We often saw Jesus take time with His disciples to pray, but we also witness Him enjoying their company along with so many others. The wedding feast of Cana, the fish fry gatherings on the beach, the dinners at friends’ and sinners’ homes. Jesus was available and willing to spend time in nourishment and fun. As we gather as Vincentians, we are building friendships which will provide support and keep us well to better serve our neighbors in need. As we gather with family and friends this summer, take time to soak in their love and care for you, so you may share it with others.

Take steps to avoid compassion fatigue: Live within your mission statement, de-brief with other Vincentians, Refill and refuel in healthy ways, Leave your superman/woman cape in the closet. As Vincentians, and servant leaders we must find ways to pour ourselves out without wearing ourselves out and be able to teach others the same. St. Paul tells us in Phil 4:11-13, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

While we are relaxing and refreshing, perhaps we might dream about where the Holy Spirit might be leading us in next year’s formation in our Conferences and Councils, always aware of Saint Vincent’s guidance:

“Since you know the means of getting better, in the name of God, make use of them. Do not take on anything beyond your strength, do not be anxious, do not take things too much to heart, go gently, do not work too long or too hard.”

The Well: Learning from Christ How to Find Him in the Moment of Encounter

The Well: Learning from Christ How to Find Him in the Moment of Encounter 1600 1200 Tim Williams

By Rita St. Pierre, National Vincentian Spirituality Committee Chair

As Vincentians, we often are reminded that our charism is “finding the face of Christ in the poor.” But how do we understand the term “charism” and how do we live it? The word “charism” is from the Greek and means “favor” or “free gift.” Charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit.

This grace of seeing the face of Christ in the poor and being Christ for those we visit is the core of our vocation. During every encounter, regardless of the location, Christ within us encounters Christ in our neighbor in need. Recognizing, accepting and living that grace requires reflecting on how this can be accomplished. Let us learn from Christ Himself by reflecting on two of His encounters.

The woman who had hemorrhaged for many years simply touched his cloak, with faith that she would be healed (Mk 5:25-34). Jesus asked who touched Him, then waited for her to come forward and present herself. He looked at her with love, healed her and sent her off saying “go in peace.” Many times, our friends come to us reluctantly for assistance without fully sharing the details or extent of their needs. Some are anxious or, like this woman, some are embarrassed. This encounter teaches us to be patient, compassionate, respectful and to wait calmly for God’s son/daughter to share. Then hopefully we leave them with peace in their hearts.

Now let’s examine the encounter between Jesus and the woman accused of adultery. Jesus waited until the crowd left after he challenged them. With a calm and patient presence, Jesus allowed for a confidential, calm interaction with the woman, thereby restoring her dignity. Again, He certainly looked at her, spoke with her and not at her, without judgment but with respect, encouragement and hope. Can we honestly say that we emulate this encounter? Our encounters require only one response: our kind presence and profound listening. Financial or other assistance will flow from there.

When we need to refresh and renew ourselves as we serve, prayer is a priority. From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus often went off alone to pray. “And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed.” (Mk 1:35). We read that He frequently went up to the mountain to pray. (Mk 6:46; Lk 6:12; Lk 9:28).

Making time for frequent prayer, sitting in silence with the Holy Spirit, will always give us the graces to see Christ in our neighbors, Because of our encounters with Christ in prayer, the neighbors we visit will see Christ in us. Let us remember that Elijah waited on the mountain to hear from God. Elijah heard Him only “in the sound of sheer silence”. (1 Kings 19:11-13). To refresh and renew, to deepen our relationship with the Lord, where is our mountain, and can we wait patiently to hear Him in the sound of silence?

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