My dear brothers and sisters, members of Saint Vincent de Paul Society and members of the worldwide Vincentian Family,

Merry Christmas!

The angel said to Mary: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High […] his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1, 30-33)

The angel’s proclamat6ion announcement to Mary is the certainty that Jesus, our redeemer, has come to bring salvation to all who believe in God and in Christ’s message.

As member of the Vincentian Family, we can never lose faith and hope that, with Christ, we can overcome all the difficulties that may arise during  our journey in this life.

Through out multiple works we have endeavoured to serve, with love and dedication, the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society, seeking to help them surmount the problems they encounter in life.

Dear brothers and sisters, this year has been very difficult due to the health crisis that has afflicted every continent and that is precisely why we will be celebrating Christmas in 2020 with much more vigor and enthusiasm.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the person of those men and women who are suffering, expects from us a more fraternal service of charity, joining material bread with the spiritual bread and offering this food to those who are needy, abandoned and forgotten.

Therefore, we wish all the members of the Vincentian Family throughout the world a HAPPY and HOLY CHRISTMAS, men and women who spread the message of peace and harmony and proclaim that Christ is the living gift of God for humanity.

May 2021, the International Year of Jules Devaux, represent a moment of rebirth and renewal in the hope of building a more just and united society.

These are the wishes of the President General and the Council General for all.

Happy 2021!

Renato Lima de Oliveira
16º President General of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul