Love in Action

A major theme for our Conferences this year was getting back to home visits. Visiting our neighbors in their own homes – and listening to their stories, anxieties, hopes and dreams – has always been the signature service model for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Over the past few years, especially, it has been apparent that our Vincentian vocation is more fulfilling and complete when we can show up for our neighbors, person-to-person and heart-to-heart.

As we gathered stories from our Conferences for this report, there is another theme that became clear. It’s not just the home visit that distinguishes SVDP – it is also the willingness of our Vincentians to go the extra mile. We heard countless stories this year about the ways Vincentians have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors. Some delivered food from their own homes to families in crisis. Others offered rides to neighbors, making sure they could get to work, job interviews, or social services appointments. Some Vincentians were simply present for neighbors during times of stress and uncertainty – becoming a reassuring voice on the other end of the phone, a hand to hold, a partner in prayer.

The three pillars of our Vincentian vocation are faith, friendship and service. In even simpler terms, what being a Vincentian is all about is putting love into action. For our neighbors, for each other, and for ourselves, we bring the message in 1 John 3:18 to life: “Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

Alison Zlatic, Cincinnati District Council President

Alison Zlatic