Meeting in Paris of SSVP leaders from English-speaking countries

The meeting of Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of the SSVP from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, England and Wales, Ireland and Singapore (English-speaking countries), scheduled from March 9 to 12, has begun in Paris.

Among other topics, discussions will address: the Statutes and the Rule, methods for improving and expanding human and financial resources, the new strategies of the CGI, the regulation of Special Works, collaborations with the Church and other related institutions, twinning initiatives and the Commission for Development Aid, international cooperation, the finances of the CGI and of the National Councils, and preparations for the next Assembly in Lisbon.

The meeting is attended by the Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of the National Councils of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul from the invited countries. Present are the Presidents Mark Gaetani (Australia), Linda Dollard (Canada), Elaine Heyworth (England and Wales), Teresa Ryan (Ireland), Gerry Stevens (New Zealand), Lucy Cher (Singapore) and John Berry (United States), accompanied by the Chief Executive Officers Toby O’Connor (Australia), Philippe Blain (Canada), Kate Nightingale (England and Wales), Martin Tiernay (Ireland) and Michael Acaldo (United States).

Also participating on behalf of the International General Council (CGI) are the International President General, Juan Manuel B. Gómez; the Treasurer, Alfons Ten Velde; and the CGI Executive Director, Paulo Cavaleri, host of the meeting.

At the opening of the meeting, the International President General addressed the participants with the following welcome message:

“Dear brothers, welcome to Paris, this is your home!

It is my pleasure to open this meeting, a meeting in which several very interesting topics will be discussed, and I would like to briefly contribute my small grain of sand later on, as the recent former President of the SSVP in Spain.

But in reality, from an emotional point of view, what pleases me most is to greet you again and to give you a warm embrace in this atmosphere of work and friendship that we have been building, which enriches our relationships and encourages us to achieve even greater accomplishments for the SSVP.

Our example of faith, work, friendship and mutual care, as we will show, God willing, at the Lisbon Assembly, contributes positively to the healthy growth of the Conferences and also to our external image, allowing us to be more widely recognised and to attract more resources, both human and financial.

Thank you very much once again for making this possible.”