Gospel: "I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers."   (Luke 22:32)

St. Vincent: "the Union of the Catholic Apostolate, founded ... for the purpose of promoting the multiplication of the spiritual and temporal means necessary and appropriate to revive faith and rekindle charity among Catholics and to propagate it in every part of the world so that soon there may be one flock pastured by one supreme Shepherd all over the world..."

Our Constitutions: "We cooperate in the saving mission of Jesus through all the 'spiritual and temporal means adapted to the revival and propagation of faith and charity among Catholics throughout the world so that soon there may be one flock and one Shepherd.'" (#62)

From the beginning St. Vincent was concerned with reviving faith so that others might come to know God as an all loving God just as he had. He realized that the practice of charity would allow persons to radiate God's love in a world that needed to experience that love. In his down to earth practicality, he saw that such efforts had to be unified and in his theologically sound vision, he knew that love required a sense of unity among all of God's people.

The ideas he expressed in so many ways have come down to as as the call "to revive faith, rekindle charity and foster unity." These words speak to us of our call to evangelize in our day as he did in his with focused energy and limitless trust in the God who calls us to be co-apostles with Jesus.

And so today, in whatever ways we can, we strive to give a new life to faith, a new spark to love, and a new thrust towards unity-- for words are not enough, what is needed are deeds.