Preparations for a 2024 gathering of the global Vincentian Family in Rome highlighted the agenda of the semiannual meeting of the Vincentian Family Executive Board from June 26-29, 2023 in Philadelphia, USA.

More than a dozen religious and lay leaders representing the Vincentian Family’s 168 Branches participated in the four-day session, which concluded with Mass at the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Fr. Tomaz Mavric, CM, President of the Board, was celebrant.

“We are inviting all the branches and hopefully all will come,” Fr. Tomaz said of the planned November 14-17, 2024 Convocation themed “Keeping the Fire Burning: Vincentian Synodality in Action.”  It will end at the celebration of the World Day of the Poor at the Vatican and lead into the start of the 2025 year-long jubilee of the Catholic Church.

It will be the third worldwide gathering of the Vincentian Family following the 2017 Symposium commemorating the Birth of the Vincentian Charism, and the 2020 gathering of the leaders of 99 Branches of the Vincentian Family along with other Vincentian leaders.

The Executive Board has identified three primary focus areas to guide their work in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul: charity, formation, and communication.

Starting top, left: Fr. Joseph Agostino, CM (Executive Director, Vincentian Family Office), Brother Broer Huitema, CMM, Fr. Tomaz Mavric, CM (Superior General, Board President), Fr. John Kandathinkara, VC (Superior General), Sr. Julie Kubasak, DC, Mrs. Tayde de Callatay (AIC International President), Sr. Eileen Haynes, SCL (SCL Community Director), Mr. Renato Lima de Oliveira (SSVP International President).
Starting bottom, left: Sr. Barbara Flad, SC (Zams, SC Federation of Strasbourg), Ms. Marie Claire Balo (VMY), Brother Lawrence Obiko, CMM (Superior General), Sr. Grace Hartzog, SC (Executive Director, SC Federation of North America), Fr. Joseph Arackal, VC, Fr. Gregorio Banaga, Jr., CM, Mrs. Guillermina Vergara Macip (AIC).