VIA Intro

On behalf of DePaul University’s Vincentians in Action (VIA) community, welcome!  We hope this reflection toolkit will be helpful in your service and community engagement.

Since 2002, DePaul has engaged a framework for reflection and community building called VIA, an approach that is intentionally connected to direct service and community engagement. VIA is a framework rooted in:

  • Wisdom and values from Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, the international Vincentian family, and Catholic Social Teaching
  • Best practices in community engagement, social justice, and interfaith ministry
  • The Division of Mission and Ministry goals and strategies

VIA empowers students to uplift the collective liberation and dignity of all, particularly historically-marginalized communities. Students echo an essential VIA insight: “Service without reflection is just work – just another task.” The core pillars of VIA – unpacked in VIA reflection and formation meetings after community engagement experiences throughout the year – are the following:

These seven pillars correspond to the seven petals of our VIA flower!

VIA is intentionally communal. VIA recognizes that we can’t do this alone; we cannot really engage in this journey of service, faith and spirituality, learning, and social justice action without being part of a community of support – and challenge – that both sustains us and invites us into deeper transformation.

When involved students are asked, “What is Vincentians in Action?” a common response is: “VIA is a space to reflect on service. VIA is a space of belonging. VIA is community.” Developed by DePaul students, staff, and faculty in 2002-2003, VIA is one way that DePaul educates students to be spiritually-grounded, ethical leaders of today and tomorrow.

To learn more, contact the Vincentian Service & Formation Office at VSF@depaul.edu, check out our Linktree, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @depaulvia.