The National Council of Panama organized the First Training Workshop held from February 10-12 in Volcán-Chiriquí at the Héctor Gallego training center. We had the pleasant presence of Fr. Joe Agostino, Coordinator of the Vincentian Family Worldwide, and Yancarlos Carrasco, international president of Vincentian Marian Youth. During the development of the themes, we deepened the charism we inherited from St. Vincent, and 5 modules were developed. Among other presentations, Fr. Joe spoke to us about working collaboratively by carrying out specific projects in the Vincentian Family, offering concrete answers to the service of the poor. In the first Conference the Regional Councils of Panama, Colón, Santiago de Veraguas and Chiriquí participated, with the different branches that work in Panama: AIC, CM, HC, VM, AMM, SSVP, with 45 participants.

The Regional Council of Colón and Panamá organized the second Formation Workshop held March 4-5 in the parish of Santa María in Balboa and Hogar Bolívar, with 65 participants from different branches: AIC, CM-Seminarists of the Province of Philadelphia, HC, VMY, AMM and SSVP.

The Regional Council of Chiriquí organized the third Training Workshop held March 11-12 at the Héctor Gallego Training Center in Volcán, with 25 participants from the different Branches: AIC, CM, HC, VM, AMM and SSVP.

“St. Vincent was a teacher of empowerment, he developed processes that helped people manage themselves in life and in service and, in particular, helped the poor. Cooperation in working with the poor and their fellows to discover their own power to develop and free themselves from all slavery, vulnerability and poverty” (Chavez, Eli. Cm).

We thank the great Vincentian Family of Panama for the decision to acquire greater Vincentian formation in order to serve our brothers by practicing the charism inherited by the founding saints.