Cyberspace teleconference discusses the issue of poverty

IC photo by Christine Young

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Jennie McDonald, president of the Our Lady of Lourdes Ladies of Charity Chapter, hosts the Vincentian teleconference.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Ladies of Charity from the Saint Olaf and Our Lady of Lourdes Chapters participated in the first cyberspace Vincentian Family Gathering, which was viewed from 290 cities in 27 countries on April 24.

Vincentian Father John Freund, communications director, said the gathering was a shared discussion via live Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Blog feeds. Gene Smith, past president of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and affiliate of the Daughters of Charity, facilitated the event. The topic of the gathering was systemic change, which is moving from serving those in need to helping them become self sufficient through education, advocacy and legislation.

The Vincentian Family includes Vincentian priests and brothers, Daughters of Charity,

Sisters of Charity, Ladies and Juniors of Charity, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of the United States and International, Vincentian Youth and Volunteers and Miraculous Medal associations.

The gathering was based on Sister of Charity CJ Willie's talk on systemic change. "In order to understand systemic change we need to understand the difference between charity and justice," said Sr. CJ, who is from the Sister of Charity Federation in Cincinnati, Ohio.

"Charity and justice are both essential, and one without the other is incomplete," she said.

"When we look at charity, we are looking at social service and what people need at the moment. We provide for needs through food pantries, homeless shelters and clothing drives. On the other hand, justice is directed at the root causes of social injustices and involves legislative advocacy and community organizing."

Sr. CJ said advocacy means to speak with or on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. "The Ladies of Charity of the United States of America are involved in advocacy by allowing people to tell their stories helping us understand their situations, and at the same time protecting their human dignity," she said. "They gather the data that can be used by policy makers to help the poor achieve basic social, economic, and political rights."

Sr. CJ said the focus of systemic change is long-term solutions to problems, which cause poverty. "Systems thinking is moving from giving people a hand out to a hand up. We must engage in collaborative efforts and remember that one size doesn't fit all. Projects are unique because they respond to the needs of specific populations. Systemic change involves those living in poverty because they know what their needs are, and it is a self-help, self-sustaining program. The poor should be involved in the strategies created to change those structures which keep them in poverty."

"The Vincentian family is collaborating from the local level to the international level, said Vincentian Father Gregory Gay, Vincentian superior general. "Our worldwide project "Zafen," which is Creole for "It's Our Business," is a celebration of the 350th anniversary of the deaths of our founders, Saints Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. Zafen gives us an opportunity to make a long-term difference in rebuilding Haiti following the devastating earthquake. It is truly our business to work for those who are poor, with them and from their reality."

Sr. CJ said the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Bellenville, Ill., developed an alternative to payday loans for the working poor. "Instead of quick loans that charge high interest rates, the alternative payday loans charge 3 percent interest, offer a flexible repayment schedule, provide financial education, budgeting classes and a mentor for borrowers so they can learn new habits."