The third session of the meeting of the leaders of the Vincentian Family in Rome began at 8:15 am with the celebration of the Eucharist in the parish of Divine Mercy (located next to the Augustinianum where we are meeting). At 9:00 am we began the presentations and discussions that would fill an intense but fruitful day of work.

Sister Regina Hiavac, DC and Eduardo Almeida, a member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, spoke about the efforts of the Vincentian Family to create a culture of vocations. That presentation was followed by a panel discussion composed of Sister Veronika Hausler, SC, Denise el-Khoury, James Walters and Astor Rodríguez, CM who shared their personal experiences and some insights with regard to the development of this culture of vocations.

After a meal, the participants returned and began the afternoon session at 3:00 pm. René Stockman, a Brother of Charity, spoke about passing on the charism in various Vincentian institutions. This is a question that is concerns various congregations that are decreasing in numbers but that desire to preserve the charism as they pass on the management of these institutions to other individuals.

The afternoon’s work was concluded with three very interesting presentations:

[1] A video about the ministry in Taizé and its relationship with the Vincentian charism … there is a request from the ecumenical center in Taize for a permanent Vincentian presence at the center.

[2] A presentation about the project of developing a Vincentian missal that will bring together the liturgical texts of all the saints and blessed of our great family … Sister Bernadette Miller, DC is coordinating this project.

[3] A presentation about the work that is being done in the Nederlands in order to present the Vincentian charism from a lay perspective … this work is being coordinated by Marieke van de Ven, Jos Roemen and Hernike van Riel.

The session ended at 7:00 pm with a certain urgency to leave the meeting place since that is also the time at which the front doors are locked.

Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM
Eastern Province, USA