Pope Pens a Letter Celebrating 400 Years of the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul

Vatican City, January 21, 2025: Pope Francis marked the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul by sending a letter to its Superior General, Fr. Tomaž Mavrič. In his letter, the pope emphasized how St. Vincent de Paul’s motto of “service to Christ in the poor” helps in the renewal of the Church.

“I hope that the celebrations of the fourth centenary will highlight the importance of St. Vincent's vision of service to Christ in the poor for the renewal of the Church of our time,” the pope wrote. He added that this service can be through "missionary discipleship and assistance to those in need and those who are abandoned in different parts of the world.”

The Holy Father also reflected on the origins of the Congregation and emphasized how St. Vincent de Paul left a lasting legacy of spirituality, missionary enthusiasm, and pastoral devotion. He encouraged young people to draw inspiration from the life of St. Vincent de Paul, urging them to be “bold and courageous witnesses of the Gospel among their peers and wherever they are.”

Founded on April 17, 1625, the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul has dedicated itself for the past four centuries to charitable works and assisting in the spiritual guidance and formation of the clergy and laity. The Vincentian Family, which now encompasses over 100 branches of priests, brothers, sisters, and laypeople, remains unified in its mission of charity and spiritual guidance. Among its key expressions are the St. Vincent de Paul Society, founded in 1833 by Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and the Daughters of Charity.

In his letter, Pope Francis referred to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as “an extraordinary force for good, in the service of the poor.” He also mentioned two other expressions of the Vincentian lifestyle: “Vincentian Volunteers” and the “Daughters of Charity,” referring to the latter as “a revolutionary form of women's community.”

Concluding his letter, the Pope encouraged the Vincentian Family to draw inspiration from their founder and rededicate themselves to serving the marginalized: 

“Courage then, brothers, let us dedicate ourselves with renewed love to the service of the poor,” he wrote. “Let us seek out the most miserable and abandoned. Let us acknowledge before God that they are our lords and masters and that we are not worthy of offering them our humble services,” the Holy Father wrote.

The pontiff also imparted his apostolic blessing and assured the congregation of his prayers as they continue their centuries-old commitment to charity and service.

Courtesy: Vatican News