As we approach the feast of St. Vincent, the Vincentian Family Office invites you to deepen your understanding of the relational fabric of the Vincentian Family as you read the first of three articles written by Fr. Memo Campuzano C.M. following the recent Convocation of the Vincentian Family in Rome.  We hope that it will promote both individual reflection and also communal dialogue within your Vincentian circles.  Thank you for building and nurturing relationships within the Vincentian Family.

Weaving Hope: A New Tapestry of Communion in the Vincentian Family
Living the Relational Fabric in the Spirit of Synodal Conversion and Renewal

“We must help each other, putting up with each other and seeking peace and union; Because that’s the wine that cheers and strengthens travelers on that path close to Jesus Christ.” – Saint Vincent

In a divided world marked by isolation, injustice, and rapid transformation, the Vincentian Family reclaims its prophetic identity through a “mystique of WE.” The 2024 Rome II Convocation calls us to rekindle the relational heart of our charism and renew structures for mission. Stretching across 170 countries and 180 branches, this family is being reimagined as a vibrant tapestry of communion. It is not symbolic, but alive—woven through honest encounter, intercultural dialogue, and shared mission rooted in Gospel values. Responding to the call of synodality, we are urged to walk, discern, and build together a future shaped by creativity, hospitality, inclusion, and common prophecy.

A Culture of Encounter: Communion and Inclusion

Long marked by diversity, the Vincentian Family must now embody intentional and visible communion. Echoing the Synod’s call to relational conversion, we are moving toward a lived culture of encounter. Structures like the Vincentian International Office, National Councils, and regional platforms such as FAVILA and international commissions are not administrative formalities but engines of collaboration, uniting clergy, laypeople, and consecrated persons in service to the poor and the planet. Our full communion in mission is foundational, not optional.

The new relational fabric demands spaces where every voice is valued—especially those of the poor, youth, women, and underrepresented cultures. We are called not only to work together but to become one body, one Family, serving the Gospel in solidarity and love.

From Conversation to Conversion

A key moment at the Rome Convocation was the practice of “Conversations in the Spirit”—a dialogue method rooted in prayer, silence, deep listening, and communal discernment. This shift from debate to discernment signals a profound cultural transformation. By embracing this model, the Vincentian Family aligns itself with the heart of the synodal Church: one that listens before acting, and acts only after authentic spiritual discernment.

This new way of being fosters unity in diversity, where disagreement is embraced (dissensus before consensus) and where collaboration is shaped by generational and cultural richness. Leadership, too, must evolve—moving from control to shared, Spirit-led participation modeled on Pentecost (Acts 2:1–12).

Intergenerational and Intercultural Dynamism

Our future lies in how we engage the present. Youth are not passive inheritors, but co-creators of the Vincentian present and future. Action 4.1 from the Convocation affirms the need for dynamic spaces of youth participation to ensure both continuity and creative renewal of the charism.

Interculturality is equally vital. The Vincentian charism is expressed uniquely in every culture and moment. Culture, geography, and history are not barriers—they are sacred spaces where our mission is reborn. Each generation and land offer new symbols, languages, and forms of faith, enriching the whole tapestry.

As we walk together, we discover new depths of the charism through mutual transformation. “It is in walking together—across ages, languages, and cultures—that we discover new depths of our charism and allow the Spirit to shape us anew” (Ap. 21:5).

Strategic Partnerships, Political Advocacy, and Systemic Change

Our communal fabric must extend outward. Action 4.3 of the Rome document highlights the urgency of forming strategic partnerships—with NGOs, civil society, faith communities, and social movements. These partnerships are about transforming systems, not just expanding reach.

A Vincentian ecosystem is emerging—networks of collaboration, shared communication, and unified values. The poor are no longer recipients of charity but active subjects of their own transformation. Systemic change, political advocacy, and grassroots empowerment now embody our relational commitment.

We are bridge-builders, as Pope Leo XIV exhorted us: “Help us too to build bridges with dialogue and encounter, to be one people, to be at peace.” We are called to open ourselves to the stories of others—especially the poor—creating space where wounds are healed and shared dreams take root. Communion becomes solidarity, and solidarity becomes mission.

Building National Structures for Lasting Impact

While structures do not guarantee spirituality or prophecy, neither are these sustainable without them. Action 4.9 of the Rome roadmap stresses the formation of National Councils—spaces for planning, discernment, coordination, and contextualization of the charism.

These structures ensure continuity, facilitate leadership development, adapt to local needs, and uphold stewardship. Where councils do not yet exist, we are called to form them—not as bureaucracies, but as living expressions of the Vincentian “we.”

To be pilgrims of hope today means more than walking—it means weaving. We are stitching together a global tapestry of communion rooted in mutual trust, shared mission, and Gospel love.

“Love each other very much and help one another; bear with your defects and always remain united in the spirit of God, who has chosen you for this great project and who will preserve you so that you can carry it out.”  Saint Vincent.