Faith, Charity, Justice, and Civic Learning: The Lessons and Legacy of Frédéric Ozanam

Frederic Ozanam’s philosophy and work has much to offer those interested in community service and service learning. Thinkers such as John Dewey and Jane Addams believed that acts of charity allowed the rich to judge the poor and to excuse themselves from greater social responsibility. Charity and social justice were therefore mutually exclusive. In contrast, Ozanam’s definition of Christian charity involved treating poor persons as equals to increase social engagement and transform all of society. Ultimately, all classes were to come together with the same social goals of “peace, order, and happiness.” With the advice of those working in the community, visits and direct service to the poor were as beneficial to those performing service as it was to those receiving it. Those who served learned about the true nature and extent of poverty and came to understand that Christ especially commanded them to work toward poverty eradication. Service greatly contributed to the development of Ozanam’s view of democracy, his own civic engagement, and his insights into labor issues, all of which are explored in detail. The formation, practices, and Rule of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul are discussed, as is Ozanam’s influence on the Catholic Worker movement

Providence College Faculty Author Series 2017-2018: Ray Sickinger

In this installment of the Faculty Authors Series, Ray Sickinger (History, Providence College) discusses his newest book, Antoine Frédéric Ozanam

Frédéric Ozanam: Systemic Thinking, and Systemic Change

The terms “systemic thinking” and “systemic change” were not used in Frederic Ozanam’s day, but aspects of his perspective and some of his methods for combating poverty fall under those categories. Peter Senge’s framework for systemic thinking is applied to Ozanam’s work. This article also describes how Ozanam’s efforts correspond to strategies identified in the Vincentian publication Seeds of Hope: Stories of Systemic Change. In Ozanam’s view, poor persons should be treated with dignity, and he had a practical understanding of how poverty could be alleviated. The organizational model and processes of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul are explained. It was important to Ozanam to create a flexible worldwide network that could use experience to form sustainable solutions to poverty. There was reciprocity to the Society’s charity. Poor persons were empowered, and the Society’s members were transformed in their attitudes and grew in holiness through service and theological reflection. To bring about a fairer and more charitable world, both individuals and society had to be transformed

Book - The Germans in Rhode Island, Pride and Perseverance, 1850-1985

https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/exhibits_germans/1006/thumbnail.jp