FAMVIN: The International Vincentian Family

Evoking Dicken’s “Christmas Carol” the Australian SVDP website features a link to a TV spot “Help Change Their Story” as part of their fund-raising drive in this year of greater economic needs of those most affected by the world’s economy.

“Suicide among New South Wales male farmers is occurring at a tragic rate of one every six days, coupled with a suicide every four days in the rural industry, according to the St Vincent de Paul Society”. Thanks to Tim Williams, CM for drawing attention to this. Read the rest

“For every dollar we spend, we could have an impact of $10 or more if we speak as a Voice of the Poor,” National President Joseph Flannigan declared to fellow Vincentians during the recent Catholic Social Ministry Gathering on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.  “Our strength is the strength of real people who can set the flame ablaze!” Read the rest

In this Jubilee year the  Central Association of the Miraculous asks for pictures of people wearing the Miraculous Medal remembering Mary’s promise  “Great graces for those who confidently wear the Miraculous Medal around their neck.” Click to submit your pictures. Let’s see how many countries and states show up!

As we approach the feast of the Miraculous Medal in  this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Association of the Miraculous Medal famvin is republishing some resources that might be helpful. Read the rest

New socio-economic maps presented on CNN reveal so much more than raw statistics and square miles. Click on the image at right to see the shape of world in terms of young girls not in school. The story has links to two series of such views of the “real” world.

Facing religious rage in India transforms playful youths. Fr. George Varakulam. C.M  movingly describes this transformation which took place while under siege from religious fanatics.

Read the rest

The Vincentian Millennium Partnership is an umbrella organisation set up to foster networking and collaboration among those organisations in Great Britain which are influenced by the spirit of St Vincent de Paul.

For those who have been having difficulties accessing the new icon of Vincent… I just received word from TIm WIlliams, CM in Australia that his site has indeed been down for a few days due to problems with the host provider. He expects the site will be up in the next day or so.

“I am happy to inform you that the Administrative Council of St. Matthew’s Foundation in Memory of Cardinal Van Thuân has decided to honor you with the Cardinal Van Thuân Prize, Solidarity and Development 2008, for the project “Akamasoa”.  This is the first time that this award is being bestowed.  Full story from CMGLOBAL

The Superior General of the C.M. and the Daughters of Charity, Father G. Gregory Gay, describes and shares pictures of his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to Congo Brazzaville, where he met with the missionaries of the C.M., the Daughters of Charity, and diverse groups of the Vincentian Family.

Between them Angela King and Natalie Hurst have raised £1,545 by taking part in a skydiving stunt at the end of August 2008. These two women are friends of the Daughters and for a number of years they have been supporting the people of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia where the Daughters run the following services : an orphanage, a school, a housing project and a sewing project.

NCR has a Google-like catholic community calendar which allows users both to see and submit events of interest to the catholic community. Note: This is most likely the same program used by famvin for some months now on the lower right corner of its home page.

This Icon of St Vincent de Paul sees Vincent meeting the Beggar-Christ who shares with Vincent his meal of bread. The icon was written by Rita Magris in 2006, and shows the saint of charity being graced with charity himself.The icon can be found in St Joseph’s Church Malvern, and is reproduced on the Australian CM site with permission, from “The Story of the Church of St. Joseph’s Malvern 1908 - 2008″, St Joseph’s Church History Group, 2008.

Begin.ie, the  very attractive vocations website for the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in the Irish Province is well worth a visit to see how they have integrated videos, games, blogs, etc. with content that might be attractive to discerners.