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A 5-day Vincentian Retreat (PDF)
Father Pedro Opeka, an Argentinian priest and son of Slovenian immigrants, founded the Akamasoa Association in Madagascar to help families escape poverty through housing, education, and work. Rooted in Gospel values, Akamasoa has grown into a network of self-sustaining villages, transforming thousands of lives and earning global recognition.
In his final years, Fr. David continued to serve the Church and science from Paris, maintaining a life of prayer, simplicity, and intellectual rigor until his death in 1900. His legacy as a prophetic bridge between faith and science continues to inspire ecological spirituality, Vincentian mission, and integrative approaches to evangelization and the natural world.
Between 1866 and 1873, Fr. David undertook three major expeditions across China, documenting hundreds of species—including the giant panda and Père David’s deer—while integrating prayer and missionary witness into his fieldwork. His scientific achievements were inseparable from his spiritual vision, seeing nature as a reflection of God’s creative power.
Arriving in China in 1862, Fr. David immersed himself in Chinese culture while serving as a Vincentian missionary dedicated to the poor and the spread of the Gospel. His humility, inculturation, and perseverance amidst cultural tensions laid the spiritual foundation for his later scientific work.
Armand David, CM, was born in the Basque region of France in 1826 and developed a deep love for both the Catholic faith and the natural sciences from an early age. His formation in the Vincentian community nurtured his dual vocation as a missionary priest and a scientist, preparing him for a future that would bridge evangelization and scientific exploration.
Leo Dupont was a French Catholic layman renowned for his deep Eucharistic devotion, tireless promotion of the Holy Face of Jesus, and charitable work through the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. His life of prayer, generosity, and service to the poor embodied Vincentian spirituality and left a lasting impact on the Church’s devotional life.
Sister Gabriella Borgarino, DC, was an Italian Daughter of Charity whose life was marked by profound humility, simplicity, and mystical union with the Heart of Jesus.
Franciscus Hubertus Schraven was a Dutch Vincentian priest and bishop known for his missionary zeal and charity. Serving in China during turbulent times, he was martyred on 9 October 1937 in Zhengding for refusing to hand over Chinese women to Japanese soldiers. His life reflected the Vincentian spirit of service to the poor, Gospel fidelity, and hospitality.
Mathieu Renard, a confrere of the Congregation of the Mission, was famous for his heroic and astute dedication in moving aid from Paris to Lorraine during the war, making 54 risky journeys without losing property or protected persons. Deeply inspired by Vincent de Paul, his life was an example of how an authentic follower of the Vincentian charism could embody its spirit with courage, creativity and compassion.
Sister Euphemia Blenkinsop, born in Dublin in 1816, immigrated to the United States and became a key leader of the Daughters of Charity, serving as visitatrix from 1866 until her death in 1887. Her visionary leadership during the post-Civil War era strengthened the community’s spiritual life and expanded its educational, healthcare, and charitable missions across the country.
Sister Chrysostom Moynahan, Daughter of Charity, was a visionary nurse, administrator, and educator whose pioneering work transformed healthcare in the USA South and set new standards in nursing education.
Sister Ursula Mattingly (1808–1874) was a pioneering American nurse and hospital administrator who founded Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and led its courageous response to the 1849 cholera epidemic. Her legacy endures as a model of Vincentian compassion, professional healthcare, and servant leadership in service to the poor and sick.
