President General’s Visit to Mexico Kicks Off
With 40 Conferences, the country is present in six regions
Next August 6th, 2021, brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, the SSVP’s 16th President General, is making his first institutional visit to the National Council of Mexico, with full respect of health and safety measures established by health authorities due to the health crisis.
Renato Lima’s agenda includes several activities in Mexico City (Federal District), in Cuernavaca (State of Morelos) and León (State of Guanajuato). In addition to meetings with officials of the Catholic Church and the Vincentian Family, President General will have the pleasure of meeting with members of the Mexican SSVP, and visiting the national headquarters and several charity projects, such as a soup kitchen, a library and Ozanam’s House (Casa Ozanam). Moreover, the President will be distributing food parcels to the needy, along with local Conferences, and visiting a family in need.
On August 14th, President General’s agenda will conclude with his return to Brazil. This trip, initially scheduled for 2022, has been brought forward to 2021 due to the opening of air borders between Mexico and Brazil. Next year, brother Renato is planning, God willing, to visit some of Mexico’s neighbouring countries in Central America.
“I look forward to this trip to Mexico, a country where Vincentian service is undertaken with great love for the poor. I am certain that I will learn a lot from this visit. All the activities will be carried out according to the protocols established, taking into account the current delicate situation. However, this will not hinder us from bringing to Mexico the message of unity, peace and charity that the Council General instills in every nook and cranny of the planet. Charity can never stop. We are confident that God is always looking after us”, stated President Lima de Oliveira.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Mexico in 1844. Today, the National Council is organised in six regions, 12 Zone Councils and 40 Conferences, with 500 members and volunteers. There are five social works spread across the country, such as day care centers, nursing homes for the elderly, social centers and welfare projects offering educational support and other services to the community.
The current President of the National Council is sister Luz María Ramírez González. We kindly request all Vincentians to pray for this new missionary trip of President General, especially now, in times of pandemic and severe travel restrictions between nations.
