WELCOME at the 2026 SPRING ASSEMBLY

“The VINCENTIAN VOCATION”

Good Morning and WELCOME to our 2026 Spring Assembly. One of our SSVP “VALUES” is to “come together as a family”. These Assemblies, including this one, satisfy that value. I would like to touch on what brings us here, as we review our Mission which asks us to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with LOVE, RESPECT, JUSTICE and JOY.

When Christ departed this earth, he shared with all that he would send someone to be with us. As we all know, that someone is the Holy Spirit. Each of us in asking ourselves, “how did we get here as a Vincentian?”, will come up with various answers. Unknown to us, we have all been touched by the Holy Spirit when we were born and sooner or later, we answer the CALL. It is a DIVINE CALL to do God’s work. By answering the “CALL”, we joined the Society and in so doing, we became “VINCENTIANS”. It is a VOCATION…the VINCENTIAN VOCATION.

Pope Leo XIV, who I refer to as Pope Vincentian II, (Pope Francis being Pope Vincentian I) says, “A “VOCATION” is a dynamic process of maturation sustained by intimacy with Our Lord. To grow in one’s vocation means being with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to act in our hearts and in the circumstances of life, while interpreting everything in light of this gift. Peace is not merely a balance of power, it is the work of purified hearts, of those who see others as brothers and sisters as ones who should be protected, not as enemies to be defeated”.

The Pope then urges us to bring happiness to others through our faith, by manifesting authentic JOY, which is not now a wager, but shared through that LOVE which only human beings can give. Unfortunately, sometimes when LOVE should be shared with each other, its enemy, HATE, shows up in many forms such as anger, arguing, bullying and others, all in a negative sense.

As Vincentians, we are called to bear witness to living in Peace and with God’s blessing. Christ has asked us to LOVE one another through the Commandment of LOVE which he has given to us with JOY. We are asked to develop and share that LOVE that comes from God and to share that LOVE with those in need, especially with the young and the elderly who may face different challenges. LOVE for the healthy and the sick, both of whom are sometimes alone and requiring that extra voice with which to answer, as they strive to batten down their loneliness.

We should always pray to our Patroness, the Virgin Mary, when we set out on Home Visits to help our neighbours in need. Pray that by our Home Visits, we make that difference in their world, to give them the HOPE with which we serve them. I urge all present here to see the POWER above in whose name we serve as we visit them.

The wickedness of “Man” caused the wounds of Jesus. However, the forgiveness of God became apparent as the Father sent His Son to forgive us our sins. Further, as Jesus was leaving, He asked the Holy Spirit to enkindle us. Consequently, the Holy Spirit is always working in us, and it is the reason why we are here today. God made us Apostles of Mercy – Jesus said to us, “as the Father has sent me, so I send you”.

Therefore, on behalf of Ozanam and his friends who started our Vincentian Vocation, I beseech you to continue on your journey, our journey as we seek His glory in a “together” mode. As we go forth with God’s blessing and our true faith confessing, I encourage you to employ God’s gifts of LOVE and JOY in a JUST manner while being RESPECTFUL of those we help as well as of each other.

SHALOM – May good things come your way!

Guido Kelly,
President.
April 18, 2026
Delivered at Stratford.