Afterword: Vincentian Higher Education and Poverty Reduction

Former superior general G. Gregory Gay writes, “Education becomes a living witness to the Gospel of Christ when it is done by a community of people who are committed to the values of a Christian life and when it is directed towards a fuller and deeper communion of all members of the community.” Vincentian institutions must aid persons who are poor in every way they can. Their work toward poverty reduction includes “formation of the heart.” This means educating students so they empathize with poor persons, while trying to eliminate the causes of poverty and generally helping the poor lead lives of dignity. It is important to acknowledge the personhood of individuals who are poor and to work with them in alleviating their poverty. The Vincentian Family and their educational institutions must collaborate among themselves and with others to free the poor from the oppressive systems and circumstances under which they live