For the past 400 years, the Congregation of the Mission, an organization founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1617, has been striving to better the world by addressing the needs of two types of poverty, spiritual and material.
However, the Superior General says this special jubilee year of celebration would not be possible if it were not for the people who have brought St. Vincent de Paul's mission to all ends of the Earth.
FR. TOMAZ MAVRIC
Superior General, Vincentians
'Vincent, his charism, is present today through so many people around the world who are really touched by this way, this spirituality, and like to live it. They live it and they like to spread it around, also to the corners, to the places where the spirituality, the charism, is not present, is not known.”
This charism, or their mission to serve, began in two small towns in France. Now the Congregation of the Mission, or the Vincentian Family, has 225 branches, more than two million members and is in 150 countries. They fulfill their calls through different ministries like education, social services, health care, missions and spiritual formation.
FR. TOMAZ MAVRIC
Superior General, Vincentians
“It means the presence of the charism is lived in so many places. The idea is now, in this jubilee year, in this great year of grace, on one part to deepen our relationships between the family to get closer, to get more collaborative among ourselves to be more effective.”
To do this, the congregation has organized initiatives for all members to fully partake in. First is the Vincentian Family Global initiative against homelessness. Then, there will be 2 pilgrimage to the Vatican and a meeting with the pope. Finally, they are organizing a pilgrimage to France, back to where it all began 400 years ago with St. Vincent.
FR. TOMAZ MAVRIC
Superior General, Vincentians
“To be able to celebrate the 400th anniversary, 400 years of the Vincentian charism, it is thanks to thousands and thousands of men and women who lived the Vincentian charism. That's why we are here today. Our call, our mission is now to live in these times and then to help make the charism move into the future.”
The Superior General said this anniversary is not only a time to reflect on the past, but a wonderful opportunity to look to the future.
