As the Congregation of the Mission marks the fourth centenary of its foundation, a new initiative invites the wider Church and the Vincentian Family to rediscover the places where Vincentian spirituality first took root. The Vincentian Pilgrimages Office, established by Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, C.M., Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and President of the Executive Board of the Vincentian Family, has its operational headquarters in Rome, at the General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission.

The purpose of the office is to foster pilgrimages to the principal places connected with the life and mission of St. Vincent de Paul, especially the Motherhouse in Paris and other significant Vincentian sites in France. These journeys are not presented simply as historical visits, but as opportunities to return to the spiritual sources of the Vincentian charism: prayer, service of the poor, missionary zeal, and charity lived in concrete action.

Fr. Mavrič encourages bishops, archbishops, dioceses, parishes, confreres, and all members of the Vincentian Family to support and promote this initiative. In his message, he recalls St. Vincent de Paul as a formator of the clergy, an animator of charity, father of the poor, and patron of charitable works. To make his life and witness better known is to offer priests a model of holiness, and the People of God a living school of charity.

The Pilgrimages Office works in direct connection with Brevivet, a tour operator experienced in religious pilgrimages and cultural tourism. Fr. Salvatore Fari, C.M., serves as Director of the Pilgrimages Office. Three proposed itineraries have already been prepared and may be adapted according to the needs and place of origin of each group.

The attached material includes pilgrimage proposals to Paris and the places of St. Vincent de Paul; to Taizé, Paray-le-Monial, Paris, and Vincentian sites; and to Lourdes and the birthplace of St. Vincent de Paul. These itineraries include places such as the Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Clichy, Folleville, Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, the Berceau de Saint Vincent de Paul, and other sites deeply linked to Vincentian history and spirituality.

The full information about the different Vincentian pilgrimage programs is available in the attached PDF files. These materials are offered in five languages and include the details needed to learn more about the proposed itineraries and organize a pilgrimage.

• Spanish
• English
• French
• Italian
• Portuguese

For those who wish to organize a pilgrimage, the document provides the following contact information:

Brevivet S.p.A.
Email: sanvincenzo@brevivet.it
Phone: (+39) 030 2895313