CHAPTER 4 LEARNINGS FROM THE STORIES
4.3.4
Ecumenicalism Many conferences are joining together with people from other churches to pursue joint programs of social action in their towns or regions. Volunteers described connecting with many of different faith backgrounds who would be in concert with the teachings and values of St Vincent de Paul and Frederic Ozanam. Others are seeing individual non-Catholics becoming involved with conference work. While some conferences were wary of this linkage and others felt it was an unhealthy or even wrong trend, many noted that this co-operation will probably increase over time, driven in part by a desire to pool scarce resources in areas and increase the number of members in conferences.
4.3.5
Celebrations “A person of enormous diligence and eager talent, Ozanam loved life.” 51 Working to alleviate poverty and dealing with the tough issues with which clients present isn’t easy. Every conference has their own ways of dealing with the issues that their members face. Many of the conferences were particularly good at supporting members to interact and actively share helpful strategies and ideas. A few went further, seeing celebration as a key element in acknowledging the work of the conference and reinforcing the efforts of the volunteers. Some volunteers noted that parts of the organisation were at times quick to criticise but slow to affirm and celebrate, suggesting that the Society needed to do more celebrating of itself and its successes. In the midst of the need and busy-ness, such celebrations may seem selfindulgent and hence be avoided or delayed. Biographers note, however, that Frederic Ozanam took time out of his busy schedule to celebrate “each month the wedding anniversary with a thoughtfully chosen remembrance”.52 Hence there may be an example for all parts of the Society to stop and take stock with celebrations that are genuine.
4.4 Threats 4.4.1
51 52
Fiefdoms There appears to be a “fiefdom syndrome” in parts of the Society where individuals, groups of volunteers or even entire conferences have become fixated on their own activities in their own territory to such an extent that they appear to “own” their particular part of the St Vincent de Paul Society. These fiefdoms have the potential to be very insular, losing perspective on what is happening in the world outside their control. Worse, they actively resist new situations and change.
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