Fr. John Maher of the Eastern Province tells the story of a seed of vocation cultivated 48 years ago by Fathers Gleason and Brandenberger. His encounter reminds us that what one sows another reaps.

(After one of the World Youth Day Programs in Panama) I ran into Sr. Lourdes, a Daughter of Charity who is in charge of Hogar de San Jose, which serves disabled and abandoned children. Beaming with quiet joy, she told me how grateful she was to be a Daughter of Charity, and how she loved this ministry. I asked Sister how she came to know the Daughters. She pointed to me and said, “Mi vocación vino a través de tus hermanos vicentinos!”  “My vocation came through your brothers- the Vincentians!”

Sr. Lourdes said that as a young girl, both Fathers Jim Gleason and Bob Brandenberger took an interest in her when she was a member of our parish in Puerto Armuelles, They encouraged her to go to school and introduced her to Daughters who worked in a nearby health center. Forty-eight years later, Sr. Lourdes can look back with gratitude not only at her life of service as a Daughter of Charity, but to the inspiration and encouragement she received from two Eastern Province Vincentians who seemed to know something of promoting a culture of vocations why back when!

Further context

The Vincentian Youth Encounter, held January 18-20 at Hogar de San Jose, Malambo, Panama before World Youth Day (WYD) had as a goal to promote a culture of vocations for young people gathered from across the world. This is the theme developed by Fr. Tomaz Mavric, C.M. Superior General of the Vincentian Family. He has written and spoken on the need for a culture of vocations in the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, and branches of the Vincentian Family.

There was a panel discussion devoted to this topic at the Vincentian Youth Encounter. A group made up of a Vincentian priest, a Daughter of Charity, an AIC member (Ladies of Charity), Society of St. Vincent DePaul, and MISEVI members all shared ideas and insights on a vocation based on the Vincentian charism of following Christ in the poor. They answered questions and overall, it was a worthwhile time of discussion and reflection.

After the program, I ran into Sr. Lourdes, a Daughter of Charity who is in charge of Hogar de San Jose, which serves disabled and abandoned children. Beaming with quiet joy, she told me how grateful she was to be a Daughter of Charity, and how she loved this ministry. I asked Sister how she came to know the Daughters. She pointed to me and said, “Mi vocación vino a través de tus hermanos vicentinos!”  “My vocation came through your brothers- the Vincentians!”

Sr. Lourdes said that as a young girl, both Fathers Jim Gleason and Bob Brandenberger took an interest in her when she was a member of our parish in Puerto Armuelles, They encouraged her to go to school and introduced her to Daughters who worked in a nearby health center. Forty-eight years later, Sr. Lourdes can look back with gratitude not only at her life of service as a Daughter of Charity, but to the inspiration and encouragement she received from two Eastern Province Vincentians who seemed to know something of promoting a culture of vocations why back when!

-John Maher, C.M.