From August 29 to 31, the Solar da Harmonia in Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, welcomed about 400 Vincentians from all over Brazil for the 1st National Mission Symposium of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP). The event, themed “From the Existential Peripheries to the Heart of the World,” became a time for reflection, learning, and strengthening the missionary spirit within SSVP Brazil.

The Theme: Looking Beyond the Margins

Inspired by a concept popularized by Pope Francis, the symposium emphasized that “existential peripheries” are not limited to geographical spaces, but also include people living in situations of exclusion, poverty, discrimination, violence, loneliness, and sorrow.

The purpose was to encourage Vincentians to understand that mission begins with human and spiritual hospitality—a call to a Church that goes out of itself to meet those most in need.

Workshops and Formative Experiences

Throughout the three days, participants took part in 24 workshops, organized around three main themes: SELF, OTHER, and MISSION. Each missionary had previously chosen three workshops—one from each theme—which explored topics such as self-knowledge, caring for others, and practical reflections on missionary action.

Two particularly impactful moments were the conversations with Fr. Júlio Lancellotti, known for his work with the Street Ministry, and with Sister Carolina Mureb, a Daughter of Charity, who deepened the central theme of the symposium alongside the priest.

“Fr. Júlio is someone who divides opinions, but one thing is undeniable: the power of the work he does. He has never given up being among the poor, and that strength was essential to shake the participants and challenge our attitude and effective action toward them,” highlighted David Alves Faria, National Coordinator of the Missionary Department.

Voices Echoing from the Mission

Among the participants, Kairo Tavares Freire, 44, a member of the St. Dulce of the Poor Conference in Colinas do Tocantins, drew attention. He was the only representative from his state at the event but returned home motivated to expand missionary work.

“For me, it was a great joy to come to this event. My heart was touched from the moment it was announced. I discovered that I have always been a missionary but now I clearly understand what it means to be a missionary within the SSVP. I want to deepen this knowledge and share it with my community, inspiring more Vincentians and strengthening our journey.”

Kairo highlighted two moments that deeply moved him:

• The talk by Fr. Júlio Lancellotti, which he described as a lesson in humility and understanding of the reality of the poor;
• The workshop on diversity, which encouraged reflection on the Church’s role in welcoming and fighting prejudice, especially regarding homosexuality.

“It was fantastic. Congratulations to the organizers for the courage to address this topic within the symposium.”

Importance for the SSVP

The symposium reinforced the role of the Missionary Department in revitalizing and expanding the SSVP in Brazil. More than just discussions and workshops, the event offered moments of spirituality, listening, and future planning, with missionaries returning to their regions with new perspectives and goals to strengthen the Conferences.

According to David Alves Faria, the symposium aimed to spark reflections that would go beyond theory, promoting concrete actions at the grassroots level of the SSVP: “The intention was for participants to think about different dimensions of our work: first, caring for oneself; then, caring for others; and finally, focusing on the mission. From the workshops, they were invited to propose practical initiatives such as small missions, recruitment actions, and activities that could transform their local reality.”

Next Steps

The plans and commitments defined at the end of the symposium will be detailed by the SSVP Missionary Department, which emphasized the importance of keeping a watchful eye on existential peripheries and carrying the message of the Gospel ‘from the heart of the world to those most in need.’

“The greatest challenge today is to spread the mission. It has grown a lot in recent years, reaching Metropolitan, Central, and Particular Councils—but the broader its reach, the greater the good it will do for the Society of St. Vincent,” reaffirmed the coordinator.

The missionaries left the symposium challenged to bring what they had learned back to their communities, turning reflections into concrete projects. For the coordinator, this will be the key to further strengthening the Vincentian mission in Brazil:

“We want to raise awareness about the importance and power of missionary work so that it continues to transform lives and strengthen the SSVP in all regions of the country.”

See more images here.

Source: https://www.ssvpbrasil.org.br/