Historic Meeting of Over 100 Branches of the Vincentian Family
On the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian Charism, and with the aim of walking more closely in the years to come, the leaders of over 100 branches that make up the Vincentian Family met in Rome, from January 8 to 12, 2020, to share the bliss of being blessed with this spirituality and of working under the theme: “The Vincentian Family moves forward”.
At the beginning of this historic meeting, broadcast live by our colleagues from Ozanam TV, there was an audience with Pope Francis which concluded with a photo of all participants with the Holy Father. Afterwards, Father Tomaz Mavric, President of the Executive Committee of the Vincentian Family, prompted us to take a look at the reality that this great Family is experiencing, and pointed out some of the fields where we are called to collaborate: formation / training, education and care of the needy.
On the other hand, Fr. Robert Maloney, forerunner of the Vincentian Family and former Spiritual Counsellor of the Council General International, talked about the past and the present of the Vincentian Charism, and invited us, as a Family, to dream of the goals to be attained in the foreseeable future.
This historic event, a gathering of over 205 participants, also covered important issues such as the following:
- The mission of the Vincentian Family;
- Communication within the Vincentian Family and the potential of the Internet and new technologies, and the challenge they represent for the future;
- The impact of the 2018 Film Festival of the Vincentian Family;
- The FamVin Alliance on behalf of the homeless, a major initiative of the Vincentian Family;
- The culture of vocations and the transmission of the charism across branches of the family.
The SSVP was represented by Ricardo Tavares (chairman of the Vincentian Family Department), by Eduardo Marques (SSVP’s rep for FamVin in the fields of formation / training, vocational culture and lay representation of the Vincentian Charism) and by the SSVP’s President General, fellow member Renato Lima de Oliveira, who actively took part in this event by giving a speech.
Our President General’ speech was devoted to the Vincentian Family’s financing model, making concrete proposals regarding the economic commitment to be made by the branches in Famvin events, fostering strengthened collaboration among members and suggesting the idea that each Vincentian could give one dollar a year to FamVin.
Later in his speech, Renato Lima emphasised the quest for holiness within the Vincentian Charism, taking quotes from some FamVin members, already on the altar, such as Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and St. Elizabeth Seton.
Finally, our President General highlighted historic moments about the SSVP’s inception, as well as the virtues and invaluable contribution of each of its founders, who made it possible the creation of our beloved Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Moreover, he presented the SSVP’s song of the 7 founders to all participants, which was released in 2019, during the events scheduled for the 180th anniversary of the SSVP’s Council General International Finally, our President General highlighted historic moments about the SSVP’s inception, as well.
The agenda of this international meeting gathering leaders of the Vincentian Family was very intense, full of debates, discussion groups, celebrations, presentations… It was such an enriching experience that a forthcoming edition is to be planned for 2023 or 2024.
Click here to view the presentation made by the SSVP’s President General for the international historic Famvin meeting held in Rome, under the theme “The Vincentian Family moves forward”.
Video produced by Ozanam TV for meeting #Famvin2020Rome
