Archbishop Wester:             Spirit of the living God,

All:                                          Come and breathe your life anew.

Archbishop Wester:             Passionate fire of God’s love,

All:                                          Ignite the talents and gifts of everyone present here, and enkindle  our hearts with the fire of your                                                       love.

Archbishop Wester:             Let us pray together the Mission Statement of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: 

(Alternate sides)

• Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

• As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.

(Together)

• Organized locally Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them,

                                                                       VINCENTIANS SEE THE FACE OF CHRIST.

President:       In our Mission Statement we find that we are inspired by Gospel values to be of service to the needy and the poor,                           that we grow spiritually by this service, and that we are united to all Vincentians throughout the world as we                                     embrace works of justice and charity.

                         Once a year, we should take time to reflect on what we are about and to commit ourselves once again to                                            faithfulness in carrying out our mission as Vincentians. At the Easter Vigil we renewed our baptismal vows.                                         Through baptism we became disciples of Jesus, committed to spread his Word and his Light to all. 

                         This commitment we make today is very much connected with those vows.  Our work in the Society is one of the                            ways we give expression to our baptismal call to bring the love of Christ to others and to proclaim the Good News                            of Jesus to those who are poor and suffering.  Let us ask our Gracious God to keep our hearts on fire with                                          enthusiasm, our spirits determined with perseverance and our bodies strengthened with energy to do God’s will in                          the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam.

Archbishop Wester: Do you commit yourself to spiritual growth, so that you may bear witness to the love of God and to see the                                       face of Christ in the faces of those you serve?

ALL:                            I Do.

Archbishop Wester: Do you commit yourself to promote a community of faith and friendship among all members of the Society                                        of St. Vincent de Paul?

ALL:                           I Do.

Archbishop Wester: Do you commit yourself to give service to the poor in a spirit of justice and charity?

ALL:                           I Do.

Archbishop Wester: BLESSING (Sprinkling with Holy Water)

                                    May the flame of God’s love light your way and lead you to grow in Vincentian spirituality and holiness.

ALL:                           Amen

Archbishop Wester: May the passionate fire of God’s love increase your friendship with each other, healing divisions and                                                    conflicts.

All:                              Amen

Archbishop Wester: May the Spirit strengthen you in the ways of justice and charity, and may you bring hope and healing into                                           the hearts of all those who are poor and suffering.

All:                              Amen

Archbishop Wester: May your hands and hearts be nourished for the work that lies ahead, that you may be compassionate to                                           human need, tender and strong in your care and faithful to the commitment of service you renew today.

All:                              Amen

Archbishop Wester: Let us pray:

 (Alternate sides)

• Saint Vincent de Paul, apostle of the charity of Christ, give us the grace of loving God through the work of our hands and the sweat of our brow.  Help us to abandon ourselves to God’s Providence, faithfully discovering God’s action in all the events of our lives.

• Blessed Frederic Ozanam, sustain in us our desire to discern and accomplish the will of God.  Obtain for us a tender heart filled with compassion for the distress and suffering of others, especially the most helpless in this world.

(Together)

• Holy Spirit, accompany us in our service towards humankind and intercede for us before the Son of God so that in our work, our families, our neighborhoods, our parishes and our communities, we become impassioned by their Gospel of love. Amen