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September is the month in which we celebrate the lives of St Vincent and Blessed Frédéric and what this legacy has given us. Their wisdom and courage ran deep and it is helpful to touch into it regularly. Fr Luigi Mezzadri CM tells us that: Vincentian spirituality is not a doctrine but an encounter, an encounter not with Christ seen in a vision, but with Christ who lives in the poor. We are called to this encounter. As Vincentians we have been drawn to the Society because of our desire to help people and to encounter them where they are. One of the qualities of encounter with another person is that we need to go into it with an open mind. While we may have had many encounters before, we need to listen to the person in front of us and be open to their unique story. We are led into action guided by the encounter and our experience. When I think about the Society and the way it has developed over the 210 years since its foundation, collectively we have been encountering people in need. In responding to the different needs that present themselves in different ages, the Society has been open to encounter what is in front of it and to respond accordingly. As Frédéric Ozanam said: