Spirituality
Ceremony for the installation of a President
At a celebration of mass The installation will take place following the Creed. The Presider will stand before the chair and the Past President and the President Elect will stand before the Presider. The Past President goes to the microphone and introduces the Society and the President Elect to the Presider and the Congregation: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is and International Catholic Organization of lay people, founded in Paris in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam and his companions. It is made up of conferences and councils, the members and the presidents of which are at the service of all whom they aid. - They have the responsibility of ensuring the spirit and the rule of the Society are observed in all activities. - They guide and assist members to achieve the maximum degree of personal service in helping others. - They are the necessary link with other conferences and councils by their attendance at meetings. - They co-operate with other organizations as the official representative. - They direct the preparation of reports and forward them for recording. The office of President is a responsibility, not an honour. N____________________ has been elected President of N ____________________ Council/Conference Father (or My Lord Bishop), I present to you N____________________. Presentation of Candle Priest – N____________________ receive this light, may it be a sign of the light and joy which the Charity of Christ brings to those in need. Presentation of Rule Priest - N____________________ receive the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. May your observance of the Rule and your dedication to its spirit bring blessings to you, to the other members of the Society and to the whole church. Expression of Commitment Priest - N____________________ you have received the light and the Rule. Are you resolved to spread this light and encourage the observance of the Spirit of the Rule in order to bring relief to the poor, sanctification for yourself and your fellow members and greater glory to God? President - I am so resolved with joy. Installation Priest - N____________________ you are hereby installed as President of the National Council of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. May God bless you and may God’s work prosper. Prayer Priest - Let us Pray Holy and ever living God, by your providence, you bring us to know your name and your work. Look with love on all members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; guide them in their good works, lead them to holiness and prepare them for eternal life. We ask this…. All - Amen INSTALLATION OF A PRESIDENT Outside of Mass This brief ceremony may be used for installing a new president outside Mass. This may take place at a meeting of the Society. If the spiritual advisor is not present, the Past President, or another officer would take the role of leader. Opening Prayer Leader - in the name of the Father & the Son & the Holy Spirit. All - Amen Leader - Holy and ever living God, through the lives and works of St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam you have taught us of your care for the poor. Look now with love on this Society and bless that which we do in your Name. We ask this through Christ who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God For ever & ever. All - Amen Suggested Readings 1st Reading Eph. 4: 1-7, 11-13 A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians. I, the prisoner in the lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. but each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The gifts Christ gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. The word of the Lord OR Rom. 12. 3-13 A reading From the letter of Paul to the Romans. By the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God Has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. 2 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one and other with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. The word of the Lord. Psalm PS. 16 R. You are my inheritance, O Lord. Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord." The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. R. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me; I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. R. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. R. OR PS, 23 R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. R. He leads me in right paths for his Name’s sake. Even through I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. R. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. R. Gospel Luke 4, 16-21 A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke. When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour." And Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the Synagogue were fixed on Him. Then he began to say to them, "today this scripture has been fulfilled in your reading. " The gospel of the Lord. OR John 21. 15-17 A reading from the Holy gospel according to John. After Jesus had shown himself to his disciples, and they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, " Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" Peter said to him, " Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him "feed my lambs." A second time Jesus said to him, " Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter said to him, " Yes , Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him "tend my sheep." Jesus said to him the third time, " Simon son of John, do you love me? " Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me? " And he said to Jesus, "Lord you know everything; you know that I love you. "Jesus said to him "feed my sheep. " The gospel of the Lord. Homily or Reflection Presentation of the Candidate. The Past President (or another officer if the Past President is the leader) presents the candidate for installation with these or similar words. The members of N ____________________ Council/Conference have carefully chosen N____________________ to be their new President. The members of this Council/Conference, relying on the help of the Holy Spirit, ask you to install her/him as President. The Past President (or other officer) passes unlighted candles, then a copy of the rule to the Leader. Presentation of the light Leader - N ____________________ receive this light, may it be a sign of the light and joy which the Charity of Christ brings to those in need. Presentation of the Rule Leader - N ____________________ receive the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. May your observance of the Rule and your dedication to its spirit brings blessings to you, to the members of the Society and to the whole church. 4 Expression of Commitment Leader - N ____________________ you have received the light and the Rule. Are you resolved to spread this light and encourage observance of the Spirit of the Rule in bringing relief to the poor, sanctification for yourself and your fellow members, and greater glory to God? President Elect - I am so resolved, with joy. Installation Leader – N ____________________ you are hereby installed as President of the N ____________________ Council/Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. May God bless you and may God’s work prosper. Rite of peace Leader - Let us share with one another a sign of Christ’s peace. Closing Prayer Leader - Let us pray Holy and ever living God, by your providence you bring us to a deeper knowledge of your name and your work. Look with love on all members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, guide us in our good work, lead us to holiness, and prepare us for eternal life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. All - Amen