Vincentians hold national assembly

Sep 20, 2024

By Lucia Lai
On Merdeka Day, the Church of St Louis hosted 164 members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) from across Malaysia for a two-day assembly. Themed Come to me, all you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30), the event was marked by reflection, leadership discussions, and community-building activities.

Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Penang, delivered the keynote address, while Martin Jalleh led various sessions focused on servant leadership and the role of Vincentians in today’s world. Raj Narayanan, the newly elected national president, welcomed attendees and emphasised the need for Vincentians to remain loyal to their Catholic identity while adapting to the needs of the 21st century. He stressed the importance of empowering the poor and marginalised to become self-sustainable, underscoring the relevance of continuous formation and training in maintaining the group’s Vincentian spirituality.

Cardinal Sebastian began with a quote from Pope John Paul II: “Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.”

In his speech, the cardinal highlighted four key points — celebration, listening, submission, and walking. He urged Vincentians to celebrate their past, listen to the needs of the present, submit to God’s mission, and walk together with others in faith. He emphasised the importance of collaboration within the Church and with other organisations, provided that Vincentians remain rooted in their identity.

Martin’s session on servant leadership encouraged members to reignite their passion and commitment to the SSVP mission. He highlighted the transformative process of being informed, formed, conformed, and eventually transformed into a leader capable of effecting positive change. He warned of the dangers of conforming to worldly values, which could lead to the distortion of Vincentian principles.

The assembly also featured team-building activities to foster synergy and synodality within SSVP, emphasising collaboration, communication, and creativity. The day concluded with a sunset Mass celebrated by Cardinal Sebastian and concelebrated by Msgr Stephen Liew, parish priest of the Church of St Louis.

In the evening Martin focused on healing and prayer, during which Vincentians lifted their ministry to the Lord. A special meditation on the Rosary honoured the devotion of the group’s founders to the Blessed Mother, seeking her intercession for the SSVP in Malaysia.

On the final day, Hugh Dason addressed the members on formation, introducing SSVP’s resources and website. Martin concluded with a session on faith and fraternity, using the story of the paralytic man healed by Jesus (Mark 2:1-12) to illustrate the power of community and unity. The assembly ended with a commissioning ceremony led by Msgr Stephen, who challenged the society to adapt to new realities or risk becoming obsolete.

The assembly concluded with a visit to the Ozanam Retirement Village (ORV) project site, located on the grounds of the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Klian Pauh. The cardinal urged the Vincentians to see the completion of the ORV as fulfilling God’s will, saying, “Let His will be done on earth, in Taiping, as it is in Heaven.”

He emphasised that this mission, entrusted to the newly elected team led by Raj and formerly by Aloysius Lai, continues the good work of SSVP Malaysia. “We must all be part of the winning Team Turun Padang – Roh Kudus,” he added.

Following this, the cardinal, Msgr Stephen, Deacon Charles Lazaroo, and Deacon Rocky Loo toured the construction site to do the blessings.