The Congregation of the Mission, founded by Saint Vincent de Paul in 1625 and now present across five continents, continues its evangelizing and charitable mission today with a strong international presence. The 2025–2026 Catalog, published by the General Curia in Rome, provides a clear and structured overview of the current state of this Vincentian missionary family. In this article, we offer a detailed analysis of the most relevant data, presenting a snapshot of the missionary body that continues to proclaim the Gospel to the needy of the world.

Global Presence

The Congregation is currently present in 102 countries, a remarkable expansion compared to previous editions of the catalog. This growth reflects not only missionary dynamism but also a strong capacity to adapt to new social and ecclesial realities.

New Ad Gentes Missions

Among the most recently established missions are:

• Africa: Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Congo Brazzaville, Goma (DRC)
• Asia: Pakistan, South Korea, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka
• Americas: Bolivia (designated as an international mission)

Most of these missions are still in their foundational or early stages, with small communities but great pastoral energy.

Internal Organization

The structure of the Congregation remains largely unchanged from the 2021–2022 catalog, with slight modifications:

Several of the international missions have been transferred to the responsibility of established provinces, indicating a process of integration and pastoral maturation (e.g., Tunisia to Madagascar, Chad to Cameroon, Alaska to Western USA).

Number of Missionaries

As of July 3, 2025, the Congregation of the Mission has a total of 2,891 confreres. Their distribution by clerical and vocational status is as follows:

The average age of the missionaries is 52 years, reflecting a significant presence of middle-aged members, with several provinces—especially in Africa and Asia—experiencing steady vocational growth.

Houses and Communities

The Congregation currently has 459 canonical houses spread across all continents. These include seminaries, parishes, rural and urban missions, formation houses, social centers, and residences.

General Council and Curia

The Superior General is Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM, was elected in 2016 and is currently serving his second term. He is supported by a General Council made up of missionaries from various continents, reflecting the Congregation’s international/intercultural character.

The General Curia is located in Rome, at Via dei Capasso, 30. From there, initiatives in formation, communications, solidarity-based economy, relations with the Vincentian Family, the UN-affiliated NGO, and international missions are coordinated.

Trends and Challenges

Growth in the Global South

Provinces in Asia and Africa are showing strong vocational vitality, with new foundations and seminaries, while Europe and North America are experiencing stabilization or numerical decline.

Internationalization of Missions

Missionaries sent ad gentes now come not only from Europe, but increasingly from India, Vietnam, Nigeria, Colombia, and the Philippines. This is decentralizing missionary work and renewing it with fresh evangelical energy.

Territorial Reconfiguration

The reduction in the number of direct international missions and the elevation of some regions to vice-provinces (such as Kenya in 2022) reflect a focus on sustainability and local autonomy.

Conclusion

The 2025–2026 Catalog of the Congregation of the Mission is more than just an administrative record—it is a reflection of a living, missionary, and universal history. Its statistics echo the passion of Saint Vincent de Paul for the poor, and of an international community committed to proclaiming the Gospel and serving on the margins.

As Fr. Giuseppe Turati, Secretary General, reminds us, that every province should preserve this catalog as a living memory of what the Holy Spirit continues to bring about in the contemporary Vincentian story.

Felipe Andrés Rojas, CM
Source: https://www.corazondepaul.org/