Concrete help for the poor is a necessity. And as spiritual children of St Vincent de Paul we cannot remain indifferent.
For a Vincentian, practical help to the poor has been, is and always will be a mission and a task. A mission he has received from Christ the Evangeliser of the poor and from our spiritual father, St. Vincent de Paul. Helping the poor is at the very heart of the Gospel and of the Vincentian charism. Therefore, to address this issue as a Vincentian is not superfluous. On the contrary, it is an act of justice to ensure that everyone has access to dignified living conditions. According to various organisations, poverty represents a profound inequality in the distribution of resources and opportunities. It is a reality that knows no borders. It perpetuates a cycle of lack of education, poor health and unemployment. It is a global challenge that affects millions of people around the world. However, in the face of poverty a Vincentian should not remain indifferent. It is in his or her hands to break this cycle, creating opportunities for personal and community growth for the poor.
But in what sense is practical help for the poor in the hands of Vincentians? I take it for granted that wherever a Vincentian lives nearby there is a poor person with a name and a surname. Someone who, because of his or her poverty, has probably faced marginalisation and isolation. In fact, you have to start identifying the poor person who lives near you. In fact, the first condition for helping a poor person is to “get in touch with them“. The poor are not so far away. However, to see them, you have to look with the eyes of the heart. To see with the eyes of the heart is to see the world of the poor through the eyes of God. From the beginning, St Vincent insisted on the need to renew our way of seeing the poor. The poor he himself saw in Pouy throughout his childhood, in his family and his social environment. Thanks to the seriousness of his gaze, Vincent de Paul saw the poor as they are. That is why he gave himself to their service, he placed himself in their midst (Cf. XI,725).
Well, as Vincentians we are called to place ourselves in the midst of the poor in order to serve and help them with respect. Helping the poor is an act of justice. An act that does not only imply giving things, but changing the structures and systems that prolong poverty. Some will rightly say that it is impossible to change these structures that perpetuate poverty. But for a Vincentian, there is always something that can be done. Indeed, if we cannot change the structures that perpetuate poverty, we can at least improve the life of a poor person. St. Vincent de Paul was aware that every small action taken on behalf of a poor person added up and made a difference. For this reason, he urged the Congregation of the Mission and other confraternities of charity that he had founded to do small but big things for the poor.
Incidentally, today there are many Vincentian programmes that help the poor spiritually and materially. These are projects that benefit people in poverty, promote God-given dignity and foster integral human development[1] . They are programmes that reflect compassion and concern for the needs of the poor. They are projects that in a sense inspire many to join the cause of the poor. Vincentians, today more than ever it is in your hands to join this noble cause. There are many ways to help the poor. Dare to be part of this great family of helpers of the poor by becoming a volunteer.
Where they are, they can play a key role in practical help to the poor. They can directly support people in need, providing practical assistance to those facing economic hardship. This can include the distribution of food, clothing, basic medical care and emotional support. In addition, they can accompany and listen to the poor. That is, spending time with people in need, listening to their stories and concerns. Effective and efficient aid is not possible without human accompaniment. For human accompaniment is essential for building relationships and understanding individual needs. They can also help the poor by promoting human dignity, helping them to regain their self-esteem and confidence.
In addition, as Vincentian volunteers you can help educate your community about poverty and the importance of solidarity as a Gospel value. Raise awareness of the underlying causes and encourage collective action. You can also collaborate with Vincentian organisations to maximise impact by sharing resources, knowledge and experience to address poverty more effectively.
In short, practical help for the poor is a necessity. And as spiritual sons of St. Vincent de Paul we cannot remain indifferent. Our dedication and compassion can make possible positive change in the lives of many people. Our help, no matter how insignificant, can make a difference, liberating, dignifying and humanising. Vincentians we are in time to serve, to help and to collaborate. It is time to know that what you have extra, someone else needs it. Your help can change lives and mark the beginning of a great change.
By Jean Rolex, CM
[1] https://cmglobal.org/es/2020/07/17/que-es-el-servicio-misionero-internacional-vicentino/