The Vincentian Family (VF) is a worldwide network of congregations, organizations, institutes, movements, associations, groups, and individuals who, directly or indirectly, carry the Vincentian charism forward through time. Some were founded directly by Saint Vincent de Paul, while others find in him the source of their inspiration and dedication to serving people living in poverty.

Through a constant movement of creative fidelity to the Spirit, the Vincentian charism, for more than four hundred years and continually challenged by the circumstances of different times, places, and structures, has remained alive and relevant. The ongoing conversion of its members and structures has proven essential for bearing both affective and effective witness to the merciful and liberating love of Jesus Christ through service to those who are poorest. “We grow together in a common charism.”

Because of the dynamic nature of life, the development of groups, and the wide variety of forms of association and belonging, the exact number of Vincentian Family members is currently unknown. The Family is known to be present on five continents and in 170 countries, with more than two million members and over four million followers.

The bonds that establish belonging to the Vincentian Family vary according to the degree of affinity and the particular nature of each branch. They may include:

a) Recognition of Saint Vincent de Paul as founder or source of inspiration;
b) A strong orientation toward serving people living in poverty;
c) A spirituality based on that of Saint Vincent, with particular emphasis on concrete and practical charity, lived out in simplicity and humility.

Sister Ellen Marie Hagar, DC, current executive director of the International Office of the Vincentian Family, states that listening to members of the VF, as well as to a professional consultant, revealed the following strengths of the Vincentian Family:

a) A unified charism of radical service to people who are poor and marginalized, with a strong global impact and an extensive presence. Despite our diversity as branches, we all share this charism centered on Christ as evangelizer and servant of the poor;
b) There has been a positive evolution in the understanding of what it means to be Vincentian and to know Saint Vincent de Paul and the Vincentian charism;
c) There is a Vincentian passion among us;
d) A vast number and diversity of followers;
e) Young adults are part of the charism.

There is a growing awareness that the true heirs and guardians of the Vincentian Charism extend beyond the traditional Branches. The Vincentian Family is truly its heir and guardian.

The proposal to organize the Vincentian Family in Brazil originated in the late 1970s. It is grounded in the conviction and missionary responsibility of its members in service to the Kingdom, and in the prophetic and energizing power of the Vincentian Charism. Inspired by the power of charity, and acting with creativity and openness, they seek to establish mechanisms for effective mutual collaboration, deepen their response to the present demands of the Vincentian Charism, and address together the urgent cries of people living in poverty today.

The VF’s current organizational structure consists of an International Coordination and Secretariat, as well as Continental, National, Regional, and Local Coordinating bodies, according to territorial needs and size. In Brazil, the VF has a National Council and regional and/or local Coordinating bodies in several states.

In the document “Keeping the Fire Burning to Be Pilgrims of Hope,” produced by the Second International Convocation held in Rome from November 14 to 17, 2024, the Vincentian Family committed itself not only to implementing internally the model of a Synodal Church, but also to ten Strategic Lines of Action. The document states:

“These initiatives are intended to influence every level of our Vincentian ecosystem. They focus on immediate improvements and long-term sustainability, ensuring that the Vincentian Family can effectively address global challenges while remaining faithful to its mission of serving people who are poor and marginalized.”

The ten lines of action presented in the document of the VF’s Second International Convocation are:

1. Youth engagement — Revitalization and continuity: “Come and see” (Jn 1:39-41);
2. Global outreach: the impact of the Vincentian presence at the United Nations;
3. The Vincentian Ecosystem: reliability, sustainability, and communications infrastructure;
4. A safeguarding protocol for children and vulnerable persons;
5. Education for social transformation: the Global Consortium of Vincentian Educational Institutions (CIEV);
6. Access to and support for healthcare;
7. Establishing a Global Network of Vincentian Foundations — or PJPs, Public Juridic Persons — to provide Vincentian organizations with support, guidance, and the sharing of best practices;
8. A Culture of Vocation: building vocational bridges within the Vincentian Family;
9. Creating and strengthening National Councils;
10. Formation Commission: reinterpreting the Charism.

These Lines of Action were reaffirmed by the Vincentian Family at the 10th Latin American and Caribbean Gathering, held in Lima, Peru, from April 29 to May 3, 2026, and at the 18th National Gathering of the Vincentian Family, held in Fortaleza, Ceará, from June 4 to 7, 2026. However, without the awareness and commitment of individuals, groups, local units, and Local Communities, the Lines of Action run a serious risk of remaining a dead letter or becoming merely another admirable statement of good intentions.

The Latin American and Caribbean Gathering in Peru, held under the theme “We Grow Together in a Living Charism,” brought together 105 participants from 19 countries, representing 15 Branches of the Vincentian Family, five Confraternities, and the Consortium of Vincentian Educational Institutions (CIEV).

The See-Judge-Act method, created in the 1920s by Belgian priest Joseph Cardijn for Catholic Action and widely adopted and popularized by the Church, especially in Latin America, was used during the Gathering with some variations. The term Discern was used in place of Judge, and a Celebrate stage was added.

SEE

During the SEE stage, participants were invited to read and listen to life and history: historical and existential contexts, including an awareness of the reality of the Vincentian Family in the various countries, the Confraternities, CIEV, and the work carried out by the International Secretariat and the Latin American and Caribbean Council of the Vincentian Family.

DISCERN

During the DISCERN — Judge — stage, Ada Ferreira, Sebastian Gramajo, Father Agnaldo, and Sister Rosa Povis shared experiences from their lives and work. Their accounts were grounded in passages from the Word of God, Catholic Social Teaching, and Vincentian Charism and Spirituality, with the aim of shedding light on the reality previously presented.

This stage also included reflections on:

• Synodality and Shared Mission, presented by Father Guillermo Campuzano, CM;
• a Summary of the 2023-2026 Three-Year Plan: analysis and challenges, presented by the Synthesis Commission;
• the VF’s Global Challenges, Opportunities, and Lines of Action from the 2024 Rome Convocation, presented by Father Guillermo, CM.

Participants also worked in groups and plenary sessions to present Lines of Action for the new Three-Year Plan of FAVILA, the Latin American and Caribbean Vincentian Family.

ACT

During the ACT stage, participants were invited to move from Discernment to Mission through the FAVILA Three-Year Plan.

For the group work and plenary sessions, participants received valuable contributions drawn from Sister Ellen Marie Hagar’s reflection, “Caring for the Vincentian Ecosystem,” and from the Synthesis Commission, which presented the “Proposed Lines of Action for the FAVILA Three-Year Plan,” the result of the groups’ work during the preceding stage.

CELEBRATE

The final stage of the Gathering was CELEBRATE, which included communications and the presentation of new leaders.

Father Guillermo Campuzano presented a reflection titled “Communication, Formation, Encounter: Building Bridges That Sustain Communion and Inspire Our Mission.”

Wendy F., FAVILA’s treasurer, presented the financial report and called for “Co-responsibility and Subsidiarity in Sustaining FAVILA’s Structure.”

German Sánchez, Coordinator of the FAVILA Council, introduced the members of the new FAVILA Council, which will be coordinated during the 2026-2029 term by Juancarlos Reaño Paiss, president of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Peru.

In keeping with changes made to its Regulations in order to fulfill the commitment to implement internally the model of a Synodal Church and ensure greater representation, the new FAVILA Council was expanded. In addition to the seven representatives of VF Branches, it now includes representatives from the six Latin American and Caribbean regions — the Andean Region, the Southern Cone, Central America, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Mexico — as well as two representatives of the Confraternities and one representative of CIEV.

The Gathering concluded with a missionary commissioning and a commitment to communicate and carry forward its reflections and Lines of Action at national gatherings.

In Brazil, the gathering intended to communicate and implement FAVILA’s directions took place during the 18th National Gathering of the Vincentian Family, held in Fortaleza from June 4 to 7, 2026. Its theme was “Growing Together in Charity — Strengthened in the Vincentian Mission,” and its motto was “Set our hearts ablaze to do what the Son of God did” (SV).

This Gathering was extraordinarily rich in many respects — relationships, formation, spirituality, culture, and the sharing of experiences from projects serving people living in poverty. It brought together 65 participants representing 12 Branches of the Vincentian Family in Brazil (FAVIBRA), with the exceptional guidance of Father Guillermo Campuzano, CM. Although less time was available, the methodology used at the 10th FAVILA Gathering was followed.

The Vincentian Charism is a precious and necessary Gift for people who are Poor, the Church, and the World. The Vincentian Charism is a sublime Grace granted by God to Saint Vincent de Paul, who entrusted it to the care of the Vincentian Family, which is called to be not only the heir but also the guardian of this treasure.

For the sake of this treasure, the person who finds it, “out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:44-46).

Become familiar with the documents of the 10th Latin American and Caribbean Gathering — FAVILA — and the 18th National Gathering of the Vincentian Family — FAVIBRA — and consider how they can be put into practice in your Community, together with the members of your VF Branch, the other Branches, and other Groups, Pastoral Ministries, Movements, and Organizations of both the Church and civil society.

We cannot bury something so precious or treat it with mediocrity, at the risk of hearing, in paraphrase, the words of the Lord: this Gift — this Charism — “will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit” (Mt 21:43).

Father Agnaldo Aparecido, CM
Source: Newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission in Brazil, No. 335