VinFormation

This hour-long panel discussion, held during Vincentian Week, September 2009, is meant to acquaint faculty with the richness of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

Using a paper by Dr. David L. Gregory, Ph.D., entitled “Antoine Frederic Ozanam: Building the Good Society,” Dr. Raymond Sickinger, Ph.D., led a discussion on the work of Bl. Frédéric Ozanam, covering many topics rich in the Vincentian and Catholic traditions. Several professors from Niagara University also participated as panelists.

• Charity linked to community, relationship
• Charity intimately linked to justice
• Regeneration of society not by rehabilitating the needy, but by changing society that does not respond to the needy

Introduction

This audio presentation, by Dr. Sickinger, focuses on how the experience of service transformed Frédéric Ozanam and led him in his personal development to anticipate many of the elements of Catholic Social Thought. Moreover, his pursuit of a life of good and the common good as outlined in Dr. Gregory’s article is directly related to his service experiences, reflected on and informed by the Vincentian Spirituality that he and his friends followed.