On Thursday, October 5 (Feast Day of the Republic, in Portugal), the seven branches of the Vincentian Family present in Portugal gathered in the Shrine of Fatima: the Congregation of the Mission, the Daughters of Charity, the International Association of Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Association of the Miraculous Medal, the Collaborators of the Vincentian Mission and the Vincentian Marian Youth.

About 1000 participants gathered at the meeting point next to the Paul VI Pastoral Center and went to the Chapel of the Apparitions to celebrate the Eucharist, presided over by Bishop Vincentian Monsignor Augusto César, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Portalegre and Castelo Branco.

After the Eucharist there was free time for prayer and personal devotions and, after that, lunch.

In the afternoon, the Vincentian Family of Portugal met again at the Paul VI Pastoral Center for the topic “With St. Vincent, in Charity and in Mission.” In this celebration the whole audience was invited to see a presentation with the characteristics of the various branches of the Vincentian Family. There was also room for each branch to present the activities carried out throughout the Jubilee year of the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian charism and the Celebration of the 300 anniverdsary of the presence of the Congregation of the Mission in Portugal.

The missionaries of the Vincentian Marian Youth who were in Mozambique took advantage of the occasion to give testimony about their mission, which also served to introduce the two new missionaries who leave on mission on January 1, 2018.

This celebration was rich in moments of sharing, but also in tributes. Our beloved father Agustín Sousa, CM, departed to the house of the Father and we could not fail to pay homage to the one who was a fervent Vincentian.

Towards the end of the meeting, the Vincentian Choral Group of the city of Chaves gave us a beautiful musical moment.

The meeting was ended by sharing a cake to celebrate the two jubilees: the 400 years of the birth of the Vincentian charism and the 300 years of the presence of the Congregation of the Mission in Portugal.

Vincentian Family of Portugal