The Vincentian Family began 400 years ago with Saint Vincent de Paul establishing three institutions - the Ladies of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, and the Daughters of Charity - to serve the poor. Over four centuries, the Vincentian Family has grown significantly around the world while remaining dedicated to its founding mission. Today, there are millions of members across many branches collaborating through various initiatives and forming partnerships to creatively address the needs of those living in poverty.

1. The Vincentian Family:
400 Years of Service on
Behalf of the Poor!
Based on an article by Father Lauro Palú, CM,
published in Vincentiana, volume 59, #4!

2. The Vincentian Family
began in a modest manner, !
as a possibility … !

3. and despite many difficulties,!
grew and spread throughout the known world.!

4. Saint Vincent established three primary institutions…!
they continue to be active four centuries later!
ladies
of
charity
congregation
of the
mission
daughters
of
charity

5. The events surrounding the confession of an infirm
dying man at Gannes led Madame de Gondi to ask
Fr. Vincent de Paul what he could do to save people
who were spiritually ignorant, abandoned and
embarrassed to confess their sins.!
Vincent asked Madame de Gondi
what they could do together.!

6. In Châtillon-les-Dombes, when Vincent was informed
about an entire family that was infirm and unable to
care for themselves, he preached his famous sermon,
noticed the large quantity of good that the parishioners
gave to the family…!

7. and then gathered together the first
group of women that would become
known as the Confraternity of Charity
(Ladies of Charity). Vincent spoke to
the women in a very moving way,
praising them for their generosity but
understanding that their charitable
efforts needed organization.!

8. Later, when the bishop of Beauvais spoke to him
about the problem that he encountered among the
clergy, Vincent asked what would he suggest as a
means to change and resolve that situation.!

9. So… a fundamental element of the
pastoral experience of our Founder
St. Vincent: !
He reflected people’s questions and
concerns back to them and so was
able to solicit from them the initial
steps and urgent measures that had
to be taken.!

10. Vincentian research articles reveal that our
Founder was not only a great initiator and
valiant and bold pioneer…!

11. but was also a loyal collaborator who entered into
partnerships with others so that their dreams !
and/or insights might be realized.!

12. Affirming the laity in their ministry was a characteristic
of Vincent’s approach. He discovered and developed
leaders to continue the mission. !

13. So… another characteristic of our
Founder St. Vincent: !
He discovered those persons who
were gifted with leadership and
organizational abilities and formed
them to become multipliers of his
evangelical, pastoral and charitable
activity.!

14. Vincent’s confidence
and his faith in the
presence of God in
our midst made him
feel an urgency in
obtaining results.!
His words are like
those of a general …
we were to run to the
spiritual needs of our
neighbor as if we were
running to a fire.!

15. Through the years, new
realities drove new forms
of service on behalf of
the poor. St. Vincent’s
prophetic institutions call
us to be faithful to the
present and lead us
toward the future as we
continue to follow the
signs of the times.!
1617 1650 1700

16. Although some of the institutions inspired by Vincent de Paul were
disappearing, an equal number of groups and new branches
began to appear and to grow in many different parts of the world.!
The Miraculous Medal Association
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Vincentian Marian Youth
1800s
1800 1850 1900

17. !
We continue with some of the same works as our
predecessors, and we have also become involved in
many other ministries and initiatives.!
today
1900 1970 2017

18. During these four hundred years we have moved in
directions that Saint Vincent would not have imagined.!

19. Today, the missionary dimension is one of the
characteristic elements of the branches of the Vincentian
Family and there are millions of Vincentians in more than
two hundred countries throughout the world.!
It was our founders who opened these doors by sending
their followers to various countries.!

20. But it is not simply geographical expansion and
growth; rather a qualitative presence, a dynamic
quality, an apostolic presence in new works…!
in numerous schools for poor children in India and the
Philippines and the United States and formation
centers for young adults and adolescents.!

21. We have learned how to utilize new ways of
communicating and have become present on
social networks…!

22. famvin.org vinformation.org vincentians.com
…we have been able to make Vincentian and
apostolic material and information available on the
internet and continue to nourish these sites with new
information and formation material.!

23. We are present in international organizations,
congresses, the UN, UNESCO, FAO, the European
Parliament, etc. !

24. Our General Curia (of the Missionaries and the Daughters), [the
Vincentian Family Office], and the executive committees of the
branches have an international character (respect for other
cultures’ practices and preferences).!
We are multilingual: using at a minimum the three official
languages (French, Spanish and English) in General
Assemblies, in courses, and in official publications.
Permanent teams of translators have enabled greater and
more effective communication.!

25. Some years ago the Congregation of the Mission established
continental conferences of visitors: CLAPVI for Latin America
and the Caribbean, APVC for Asia and the Pacific, COVIAM
for Africa and Madagascar, CEVIM for Europe and the Middle
East, CNV for the United States. These conferences provide a
forum for planning on a continental basis and for effective
mediation with regard to various problems. There is an
exchange of experiences and interprovincial activities are
decided.!

26. Today, the publication of CLAPVI
has become an incredible collection
of studies and experiences, of
proposals and accomplishments
that can be grouped together in four
areas: popular missions, the new
evangelization, formation of our
members and the ministry of lay
Vincentians in the various branches.!

27. Since 1994 and under the leadership of Rev. Robert
Maloney, C.M., the ongoing promotion and organization
of the Vincentian Family was intensified. Vincentian
branches from various parts of the world are invited to
participate in each others’ meetings.!

28. We have become accustomed to
ministering by means of projects;
organizing networks of people to
work together in common
projects [for example the
Vincentian Family Haiti Initiative,
the Vincentian Family Homeless
Initiative] … and in these
projects we see members from
various organizations coming
together for a common purpose.!

29. There have been national
and continental gatherings
to instruct the memberships
on the basic elements of
systemic change. !
[The Vincentian Family
Collaborative Action
(VFCAP) training program is
building relationships within
the Vincentian Family, as
well as beyond it.]!

30. With regard to Vincentian studies, the International
Formation Center in Paris has opened its doors to the
wider Vincentian Family (including lay people) and the
International Secretariat for Vincentian Studies has
done the same. We have seen courses offered in the
area of Islamic Studies (which moves us beyond the
saga of Vincent as a slave in Africa).!

31. Today we have many opportunities for common
formation which strengthens the unity of the various
branches and reinforces the members in their ministry.!

32. So we see that the Vincentian Family is not some
ancient ruins, but is a large living organism, animated
by its own proper spirit and born from the heart of God. !
The members of its various groups attempt to follow
Vincent de Paul as their founder, inspiration, model and
prophet as they engage in ministry on behalf of those
who are poor.!

33. The world has experienced incredible changes since the
death of Vincent de Paul. It is clear that the members of
the [religious branches] are concerned about the
decrease in numbers in certain Provinces. At the same
time, however, we have witnessed an incredible irruption
of the laity in the various ministries of the Church.!

34. May we be willing to learn from each other and minister
collaboratively … and may religious together with the
laity provide for all the poor whom God sends to us.
God calls us to view this new reality as a sign of the
Kingdom and not merely a sign of the times. Meanwhile,
we all continue to pray for vocations and we are
involved in various ways in the promotion of vocations.!

35. No celebration of 400
years of the Vincentian
Family would be possible
without affirming the
specific service of each
one of the millions of
people who are in the
trenches, that is, who are
involved in the missions,
in the parishes, in the
seminaries, in the
hospitals, in the schools.
These charities and
ministries are, in the
words of our founder,
creative unto infinity.!

36. The generosity and the services of the branches are
the result of listening to what I would call the
heartbeat of God. We know that a strong heart is
maintained and driven by small but active, integrated
cells, growing together, animated by the breathing of
fresh air and by the circulation of blood.!

37. Vincent realized that the Congregation would never be the
same as it was at the time of its foundation and he could
never have imagined all that God would expect of us or all
that God would have us become, if we were focused on
being faithful and attentive to our vocation. If we continue
to minister with and for those persons who are poor, we
should never fear that we will disappear as a family. !

38. During the next 400 years, we must strengthen our
commitment to service and to collaboration, with the
same openness of our Founder. In this way we will
continue to be life-giving members of that long line of
followers of St. Vincent, people of good will, people
who continue to proclaim good news to the poor.!

39. Based on an article by Father Lauro Palú, CM,
published in Vincentiana, volume 59, #4!
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