Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de paul 
British Province

On 13th June 2008,  around 120 members of the Vincentian Family here in Britain gathered in Westminster Cathedral Hall, Central London to hear keynote addresses from Fr Robert Maloney CM and Sr Ellen Flynn DC.  They highlighted the work of the International Commission for promoting Systemic Change, explained its mandate given to the Family by Fr. Gay and explained how the Commission had gone about its task. The term Systemic Change is rather off-putting but put simply it essentially means engaging with the poor in ways which enable them to emerge from their poverty, tackling root causes and embracing whole systems and sets of circumstances which result in poverty, disempowerment and extreme disadvantage. Each of us, in whatever we are missioned to, desires to assist the poor to change their lives. A core Vincentian value is not only to
provide relief, but also to facilitate change.

Examples were given from the experience of the Commission members and an exposition of how Vincentian Spirituality and strategies for change derived form the experience of the Commission, brought together the theory and the experience. This is all to be published in a book called ‘Seeds of Hope’ available in the Autumn of this year. The day also presented opportunity for lively debate and discussion on the theme and its application at local level in the works of the Vincentian Family members present on the day. Fr. Bob and Sr. Ellen went on to Dublin that night to share similarly with the Vincentian Family in Ireland. They were delighted to have had the opportunity to meet with the Family in these Islands and are grateful for the interest and attendance of so many. As they commented:” It has been a most inspirational experience for us both to work on this commission with five other members of the Vincentian Family. We look forward to sharing more as time goes on.”