The Vincentiana Collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections departments typically collects and adds several Vincent de Paul holy cards per week. This collecting has been going on for more than a decade, and there seems to be no end to the variety of these popular iconographic depictions of St. Vincent. This late 19th century example does not have a maker’s mark, but almost all of these cards were produced in Paris. The coloring, embossing, and other features suggest a late 19th century dating.
An examination of noteworthy change efforts enacted by Vincent de Paul underscores the importance of believing in the higher purpose of one’s goals. Empowered “followers” need to believe and find meaning in the “leader’s” vision, in order to buy into and support the change efforts. The empowerment of Louise de Marillac as a Vincentian leader was critical to the accomplishment of many great works. Organizations undergoing change or renewal can look to Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac for examples of servant leadership, and the change roles they enacted are integrated with a well-regarded organizational change model for the twenty-first century.
“Saint Vincent de Paul as Leader of Change: The Key Roles of a Higher Purpose and Empowerment” is an article by Margaret Posig, Ph.D. appearing in the Vincentian Heritage Journal, Volume 26, Issue 1, Article 4 (2008) available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol26/iss1/4
The Vincentiana Collection of DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections recently purchased a mid-19th century transferware plate depicting the battlefield nursing of the Daughters of Charity during the Crimean War. The produce was Geoffroy and Sons in Gien. Beginning in the mid-19th century these inexpensive transferware plates produced for decorative and collecting purposes became very popular among the emerging middle-class with disposable income for decorative pieces. This plate is #5 from a series commemorating the Crimean War (1853-1856).
As an “alchemist,” Vincent de Paul manipulated common elements to transform them into precious realities. Fr. Jack Melito, C.M. points out how Vincent’s “Tunisian captivity” can serve as a metaphor for his life’s work of changing evil into good, challenge into blessing, the non-intelligible into an understandable Gospel message, the uneducated into the empowered, and the simple poor into our Lords and Masters.
The Vincentiana Collection in Archives/Special Collections of DePaul University has recently acquired a copy of a cantata for four voices composed by “Mr. J.B. p.d.l.m.” The work is dedicated to the then superior general of the Congregation of the Mission and the Company of the Daughters of Charity: Monsieur Antoine Fiat. The work is dated 27 May 1900 which was the date of Clet’s beatification. It was published at the Economat of the Daughters of Charity at Rue du Bac, 140.
The Vincentiana Collection at the Archives and Special Collections Department of DePaul University’s Richardson Library has recently acquired an 1860 French commemorative medal for the 200th anniversary of the death of Vincent de Paul.
Two remarkable women have taught us the power of perseverance, presence, and prayer. Feeling the pain that detention and deportation inflict not only on those caught within the system, but also upon their families, friends, and communities, Sisters Pat Murphy, RSM, and JoAnn Persch, RSM, have combined a compassionate spirit with a passionate advocacy for immigrant rights as human rights. Through decades of involvement in healing ministries for those experiencing persecution, pastoral care for the detained, prayer vigils for the deported, and providing faithful education to politicians and government officials, they have modeled engaged, faithful living for generations of DePaul University students and other students and seminarians throughout the nation. We celebrate this link between generations strengthened by a common love for the dignity of each person through this three part documentary, “The Sisters Sent a Message…Perseverance, Presence and Prayer.” We invite you to join their call for compassion and care.
If you would like more information or if you would like to volunteer with the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, see: www.icdichicago.org. We also give thanks to the staff and volunteers of the other organizations that helped us to produce this video: DePaul University Office of Mission and Values: https://offices.depaul.edu/mission-an… El Refugio, Lumpkin, Georgia: http://elrefugiostewart.org/; the National Immigrant Justice Center: www.immigrantjustice.org; and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: http://www.icirr.org/. [ICIRR Is incorrectly identified in the credits under it’s old name Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Protection, we apologize for the error]
Two remarkable women have taught us the power of perseverance, presence, and prayer. Feeling the pain that detention and deportation inflict not only on those caught within the system, but also upon their families, friends, and communities, Sisters Pat Murphy, RSM, and JoAnn Persch, RSM, have combined a compassionate spirit with a passionate advocacy for immigrant rights as human rights. Through decades of involvement in healing ministries for those experiencing persecution, pastoral care for the detained, prayer vigils for the deported, and providing faithful education to politicians and government officials, they have modeled engaged, faithful living for generations of DePaul University students and other students and seminarians throughout the nation. We celebrate this link between generations strengthened by a common love for the dignity of each person through this three part documentary, “The Sisters Sent a Message…Perseverance, Presence and Prayer.” We invite you to join their call for compassion and care.
If you would like more information or if you would like to volunteer with the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, see: www.icdichicago.org. We also give thanks to the staff and volunteers of the other organizations that helped us to produce this video: DePaul University Office of Mission and Values: https://offices.depaul.edu/mission-an… El Refugio, Lumpkin, Georgia: http://elrefugiostewart.org/; the National Immigrant Justice Center: www.immigrantjustice.org; and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: http://www.icirr.org/.
This is the khutbah (sermon) I delivered for the Eid ul Fitr prayers marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan at the University of Chicago on June 25, 2017.
In it, I try to examine the reality of grief and trauma as pervasive aspects of the human experience and how true prophetic religion does not seek to cover up or pretend away such realities but rather acknowledges them directly. It also provides individual and communal practices for healing such grief and trauma, while at the same time always inspiring hope in a reality greater than what we can perceive in the moment. Examples of this prophetic methodology are mentioned from the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him!). The worship practices of the month of Ramadan can be some of the best examples of these practices in our community and we should build on that model and work to create real and healthy communities throughout the year.
I welcome feedback and please share with others if you think the message is important.
Two remarkable women have taught us the power of perseverance, presence, and prayer. Feeling the pain that detention and deportation inflict not only on those caught within the system, but also upon their families, friends, and communities, Sisters Pat Murphy, RSM, and JoAnn Persch, RSM, have combined a compassionate spirit with a passionate advocacy for immigrant rights as human rights. Through decades of involvement in healing ministries for those experiencing persecution, pastoral care for the detained, prayer vigils for the deported, and providing faithful education to politicians and government officials, they have modeled engaged, faithful living for generations of DePaul University students and other students and seminarians throughout the nation. We celebrate this link between generations strengthened by a common love for the dignity of each person through this three part documentary, “The Sisters Sent a Message…Perseverance, Presence and Prayer.” We invite you to join their call for compassion and care.
If you would like more information or if you would like to volunteer with the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, see: www.icdichicago.org. We also give thanks to the staff and volunteers of the other organizations that helped us to produce this video: DePaul University Office of Mission and Values: https://offices.depaul.edu/mission-an… El Refugio, Lumpkin, Georgia: http://elrefugiostewart.org/; the National Immigrant Justice Center: www.immigrantjustice.org; and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: http://www.icirr.org/.
