Resources, News, Events and Happenings related to the integration of DePaul’s Vincentian mission into the ongoing life and work of the university community.
Join us for an “Open Space” experience with other DePaul managers (of pro staff) to focus on the topics and questions most important to you! Register here
Even amid feelings of despair, there is always a way toward a new reality where life can triumph and flourish.
I know that I am not alone in finding myself stuck in some confusion and despair over the troubling conflict in the Middle East. These events are a stark reminder of the pain and destruction that violence and injustice can breed. Most of us learn about the harsh realities there primarily through shocking videos and images, leading to feelings of powerlessness and anguish because we are oceans away. Yet it is important to be aware of these realities rather than to avoid them, and to center our compassion and concern on all the people impacted. It would be inhuman of us not to do so.
As a Catholic Christian, I am steeped in a narrative of resurrection and the eternal possibilities of life and light present in the face of darkness. I find hope in knowing that another world is possible other than one filled with violence and destruction. I have learned repeatedly in my life that in moments of despair and helplessness, we can always regain some sense of agency by beginning with the reality immediately before us, with the people around us, and with the vision of life that we believe we must help create, enable, and sustain. The road ahead can be long, hard, and complex. Yet if we are open to it and courageous enough to pursue it, it is always possible to work toward a justice and peace that enables all life to flourish, reflecting the creative dream and intention of our God.
I am certain that we, at DePaul, can create a kind of community that does not replicate the harm of the broader society. Because our walls are porous by design, we cannot help but be influenced in powerful ways by the injustices that surround us in our world. Yet, with careful intention, we also can work toward a different way of being together, one that accepts deep difference and conflict while being open to deeper understanding and change. We can model among us what we hope to create.
Vincent de Paul’s spirituality is what Catholic Christians speak of as “incarnational.” That is, Vincent believed that faith is ultimately made evident in concrete action. He spoke often of virtues, which are essentially the consistent embodiment of our aspirational values and ideals. In fact, this is what Vincent de Paul saw and most revered in the example of Jesus, who incarnated the presence and love of God. Vincent de Paul believed we are called to do the same. Furthermore, Vincent suggested, God supports and accompanies us in the process, helping us toward the realization of an integral human development and flourishing.
Inspired by our Vincentian mission, we always strive toward larger goals, such as the sustainability of our planet, an end to violence, and the alleviation of poverty and injustice. We act for systemic change that can make the flourishing of life possible for all, with particular attention to those who have been marginalized or abandoned. We work to bridge the gap between what is and what we dream of.
The way to that desired end may best be achieved by seeking to create locally the human community that we feel called to bring into being globally. If it is ever to come about, the larger change we seek must be accompanied by change within and among us.
Reflection questions:
What is the human community and the world you believe we are called to help bring into being here at DePaul? How can your actions reflect the end that we seek?
Reflection by: Mark Laboe, Associate VP for Mission and Ministry
Resources, News, Events and Happenings related to the integration of DePaul’s Vincentian mission into the ongoing life and work of the university community.
This event (on Tuesday, October 24 · 3:30 – 6:30pm CDT in the LPC Student Center Room 314AB) will focus on learning sustainable practices, social justice measures, community engagement, and Halloween fun! There will be a display of eco art, dozens of tables, (sign up to table here) hors d’oeuvres, and an ethical Halloween costume swap.
Sustainability Art Needed
Just DePaul is asking for DePaul members (students, facility, staff, alumni, etc) to submit their eco and social justice art for display at the upcoming Sustainability celebration!
Join us and author, documentarian and DePaul faculty member Kelly Richmond Pope for a lively conversation about the stories, scams and secrets of the trillion dollar fraud industry as well as the lessons in vulnerability, protection and empathy she learned while writing her book “Fool Me Once.” We hope you will join us! Please gather for a tasty meal and a timely conversation to learn and share how our mission will lead us forward. RSVP here
If you have responded to the current migrant crisis in Chicago (through direct service, in the classroom, through research, advocacy, etc.), please help DePaul by responding to Just DePaul’s brief survey so we can compile an inventory of actions by DePaul community members and consider institutional coordination for efforts in addition to the work consistently being done by areas like DePaul’s Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic and the DePaul Migration Collaborative as well as within courses throughout the university.
Did you know that among higher education, October is Sustainability Month? Join Just DePaul as we help facilitate and host many various events throughout the month of October.
(See our full calendar of events below and visit our Linktree)
Over its 400-year history, the Vincentian Family has been no stranger to uncertain times. When Saint Vincent’s confrères—scattered, hiding, and hunted in Revolutionary France—faced the loss of their fellow priests, ministries, and motherhouse of Saint-Lazare, they leaned into uncertain and dangerous times, trusting in one another and in the Spirit. Today, we at DePaul University face uncertain times. The summer brought record heat, drought, wildfires, and rains across the globe. In the United States, as in many other parts of the world, economic disparities have left billions of people locked within dehumanizing poverty. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence portends seismic changes in higher education, numerous industries, and most aspects of our personal lives. What must be done?
Pope Francis addressing Congress September 2015. He called for an end to the death penalty and the arms trade, for compassion for immigrants and the poor and a global response to climate change. Photo credit: Susan Melkisethian
As we move forward with Designing DePaul, we have an opportunity to help shape the future during uncertain times by responding to Pope Francis’ call in Laudate Deum “… to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world.”[1]
Our Vincentian Family is called to respond to these and other challenges with vision and a commitment to equity, sustainability, and nonviolence. And we at DePaul University are uniquely situated to respond. We are rooted in the global city of Chicago. Our faculty, students, and staff represent countries and cultures from across the globe. Our alumni and community partners, situated in places near and far, are engaged in perhaps every conceivable industry. We are a global community, gathered for the sake of the mission, alive in this moment of history to respond to the signs of the times.
As you move through today’s uncertainty, consider how your experiences and gifts can help to shape a more hopeful future. What personal commitments can you implement in your daily life? What institutional changes will you advocate for alongside colleagues? What societal shifts can DePaul University contribute to in solidarity with our global community?
Reflection by: Rubén Álvarez Silva, M.Ed. (He, Him, His), Director for Just DePaul, Division of Mission and Ministry
Resources, News, Events and Happenings related to the integration of DePaul’s Vincentian mission into the ongoing life and work of the university community.
Mission Monday
Photo Illustration by Jeff Carrion / DePaul University
Taking the Long View
What might the lessons of the past teach us about facing the hurdles of the present? Read More
Mission-Related Events and Happenings This Week
Are you a faculty or staff member who has a child attending DePaul as a student? This luncheon is for you, together with your student-child or just on your own. Join us to meet others who share a similar experience, and to hear words of wisdom from parent and DePaul colleague, Darryl Arrington, the event keynote speaker. Please share word of this event with others you know who are part of this unique community of DePaul colleagues!
Photo Illustration by Jeff Carrion / DePaul University
For the last several years, a group of dedicated managers has been meeting regularly to discuss how DePaul’s Vincentian mission can guide and inform our management practice. A central objective of the committee has been to consider ways in which we might invite DePaul managers to come together on a regular basis to network, share resources, build community, and support one another. Such discussions bore fruit this past May with the inaugural Vincentian Managers’ Forum that was attended by approximately seventy DePaul managers. The committee is now in the process of planning further forums when DePaul mangers will be invited to meet with their peers once again to connect with one another and reflect on the relationship between their work and our common Vincentian mission.
Having served as a manager at DePaul for twenty-five years, it has often occurred to me that a foundational pillar of Vincentian management is to help new staff reflect on what it means to be part of an unfolding Vincentian legacy and to situate themselves within the arc of DePaul’s history. This is especially important whenever we are confronted with challenging chapters in our DePaul story, such as navigating the recent budget deficit. What might the lessons of the past teach us about facing the hurdles of the present?
In contemplating this question, I consulted DePaul’s own record of our rich history, which was written to commemorate our centennial.[1] This collection of essays traces DePaul’s journey from “the tiny parish-based St. Vincent’s College on the north side of Chicago”[2] through many fits and starts, to the culmination of DePaul as the large, multifaceted institution of higher learning that we would recognize today. Through my research, I was astonished that amid the many successes and times of triumph in our history, there were also certain defining moments of adversity that threatened our very survival. However, as I read about these times and learned more about their circumstances, it became apparent that no matter how daunting the path ahead may have seemed, DePaul always managed to traverse these treacherous waters. It may have meant treading water for a while, but usually the university has not only survived but flourished.
It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. When we do, echoes of old may tell us what we need to hear.
One such echo emanates from the early 1900s when DePaul was still in its infancy. During this period, “the financial panic of 1907 shrank both DePaul’s enrollment and its reputation among its creditors.”[3] As a result, by 1909, our “foundling university (now) found itself bankrupt.”[4] Clearly, this was not the end of the story though. During the next few years, DePaul managed to procure sufficient resources to continue its expansion and academic innovation. Indeed, just a decade later, the university was poised for solid growth.
Many years later, during the period of 1947–1948, another seeming insurmountable obstacle would arise when DePaul almost lost its accreditation as ruled by the North Central Association. This was due to a combination of factors such as DePaul’s “financial instability, its small number of faculty with doctoral degrees, its low per-student expenditures, and its inadequate library.”[5]
To rectify such gaps, a fundraising campaign was launched in 1952 which effectively bridged these shortfalls. Specifically, a significant number of PhD faculty were hired, and the library budget was increased. The crisis abated, and DePaul earned its accreditation.
I would hazard to guess that not many working here today would know of any of these struggles in our history. Yet such defining moments have helped shape contemporary DePaul. Indeed, the way in which DePaul weathered these crises and the innovation that brought us through these storms may have much to teach us still.
In reflecting on the peaks and valleys of our DePaul journey, it may serve us well to return to this small piece of wisdom that Vincent shared with his confreres long before the university’s naissance: “Never … be surprised at current difficulties, no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything.”[6]
Reflection questions:
What has been a time in your personal or professional life when seeds of hope from the past have helped show you the way forward?
When was the last time you stepped back and took the long view? What pearls of wisdom did this action reveal to you?
Reflection by: Siobhan O’Donoghue, PhD, Director of Faculty and Staff Engagement, Division of Mission and Ministry
Resources, News, Events and Happenings related to the integration of DePaul’s Vincentian mission into the ongoing life and work of the university community.
Vinny Fest 2023
Don’t Miss Vinny Fest 2023!
Join in the fun at Vinny Fest – a DePaul tradition – on either Tuesday, September 26 from 2-4PM in the DePaul Center Concourse or Friday, September 29 from 2-4PM in the LPC Quad. See the Vinny Fest Promo Video!
Mission-Related Events and Happenings This Week
Celebrate St Vincent de Paul Heritage Week in the Loop and Lincoln Park!
St. Vincent de Paul Heritage Luncheon
Wednesday, September 27, Noon – 1:00pm, Loop Campus – DePaul Center
Join the DePaul community for the heritage luncheon focusing on “A Welcoming City, A Welcoming Mission: DePaul University, Chicago Migration, and the Vincentian Mission.” Zoom participation is available as a hybrid option. RSVP Here
St Vincent de Paul Heritage Breakfast
Friday, September 29 | 9:00am – 11:00 am | Lincoln Park Student Center 120 A & B
Come celebrate our shared Vincentian heritage with delicious food and great community at the annual St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Breakfast! This year, Dr. Sulin Ba, the Dean of the Driehaus College of Business, will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Ba will share how she integrates the mission in her professional and personal life. Please join us! RSVP here
Apply for Service Immersions by September 30th
Apply for Winter Break 2023 Service Immersions. Deadline: September 30. Participants will travel to St. Louis, Denver or El Salvador to learn about social justice issues and engage in community service. Scholarships are available! Click here to learn more and apply.
Mission Monday
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul from whom we derive our name, vision, mission, and identity. Read More
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul from whom we derive our name, vision, mission, and identity.
St. Vincent was a visionary. He understood the realities of his time and saw new possibilities for his world within the massive socio-economic and religious chaos of 17th century French society. As he searched for meaning and direction in his own life, he found purpose and direction that always guided his vision and extraordinary pragmatism.
The practical ways of St. Vincent de Paul focused entirely on societal and church transformation by establishing communities dedicated to serving and healing those most in need. The work of St. Vincent de Paul, of some 400 years ago, focused on a new, transformed society, and this should resonate with us today, as we try to respond to our current and chaotic times.
Designing DePaul, our opportunity to shape our own society, allows us to be in touch with the inner soul of DePaul University. During this time of institutional conversation, we acknowledge the values in which we are founded and our collective dreams. We commit to being an educational institution that contributes to social mobility, breaking the cycle of poverty, designing for equity, responding to the challenges of artificial intelligence and technological development, caring for and protecting our planet, and educating leaders capable of generating a societal model where hate and violence have no place.
As you carry out your work, research, and studies this year, please consider the following four elements, which summarize the essence of St. Vincent de Paul as we embrace his heritage today:
Focus on a mission-centered horizon. This necessitates understanding your unique contributions to DePaul, firmly grasping the realities of the current situation and institutional needs, and yet also dreaming of what could be and leveraging ethical imagination to move beyond the world we know to what it could become.
Create people-centered approaches to all you do as we drive forward the initiatives within Designing DePaul. The wellbeing, the joy, and the fulfillment of individuals in a healthy environment will organically lead to a vibrant organization and better outcomes for those we serve.
Amplify a sense of co-responsibility, solidarity, and collaboration at all levels as the goals of St. Vincent de Paul. Our individual work and studies are all a part of an institutional fabric. They are interconnected in explicit and implicit ways because we all serve the same purpose, the same common good, and the same mission.
Develop strategies that are implementation-oriented, that respond effectively to real issues based on lived experience, and that systemically address solutions following the model of St. Vincent and the very spirit of our students. At DePaul our students demand that we not only ask the Vincentian question of “what must be done?” but that we also develop our response by understanding the current situation and data-based needs, by adopting a willingness to innovate and break out of old ways of thinking, and by changing our assumptions as we get new information.
And as we say, “Happy Feast Day,” let us also embrace the spirit of St. Vincent in everything we do, and also say to each other, “DePaul – be pragmatic, in a Vincentian way.”
Robert L. Manuel
President
Fr. Guillermo (Memo) Campuzano, C.M.
Vice President for Mission and Ministry
We are so excited to celebrate Vinny Fest 2023! Vinny Fest is a DePaul tradition to honor and celebrate St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy with fun, games, photos with Vincent, t-shirts, free food, and more! This year we are excited to also celebrate with the Loop Mini Vinny Fest on Tuesday, September 26 from 2-4PM in the DePaul Center Concourse. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on Friday, September 29 from 2-4PM on the LPC Quad! See the Vinny Fest Promo Video Below:
DePaul Managers Forum
Don’t Miss Vinny Fest 2023!
