Date of publication: 28/06/2022

The President General gives lectures during a formation course of the Vincentian Family

Vincentian Family

The event was promoted by the Center for International Formation (CIF)

In Paris, on June 13th, the 16 th President General International of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP), brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, gave two lectures within the framework of a formation course for the Vincentian Family. The course was offered by the Center for International Formation (CIF), which is part of the Congregation of the Mission (CM). Its Director is our dear Father Andrés Motto, International Spiritual Adviser of the SSVP.

The first lecture addressed the theme “Blessed and Saints of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul”, with the biographies of more than 70 servants of God, venerable, blessed and saints who served Vincentian conferences during their lives such as Pope John Paul II, Gianna Beretta Molla, Don Orione and many others. The presentation was based on the book “Holiness in Conferences”, written by Gesiel Júnior, from Brazil.


The second presentation was entitled “The Seven Founders”. The President General spoke about the life, work and legacy of each of the seven fathers, founding saints of the SSVP, providing abundant details about them. The presentation was based on academic studies prepared by brother Ralph Middlecamp, President of the National Council of the
United States and one of the great experts on the subject.

The courses offered by CIF generally last four weeks. It is an intensive and extensive training, in which the participants, in addition to classes and debates, participate in Vincentian pilgrimages, visiting Vincentian places where Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, Blessed Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam and other saints of the Family lived.

In 2020, the Council General International signed an institutional collaboration agreement with the CIF, granting registration fees discounts. The next CIF course for the Vincentian Family will take place in Paris July 2-26, 2023, and we encourage all the countries of our Confederation to send at least one representative from their formation committees and take advantage of this unique opportunity.
You can write directly to Father Motto (andresmotto@gmail.com) for further information.
Click here to see both presentations, only in Spanish (PDF format):


Blessed and saints of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Seven Founders