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Vincentian leadership is born not of ambition, but of humility, discernment, and trust in providence. Inspired by Jesus the servant, those who accept this call recognize their limits and gifts, lead by example, listen to the community, and act with firmness in purpose and gentleness in approach, always directing the mission toward charity and holiness.
Under an adapted Rule of the French Daughters of Charity approved by Archbishop Carroll, a novitiate was completed, and seventeen women became the first vowed American Sisters of Charity July 19, 1813.
To be a Vincentian is to answer a call from God. This is why we call it a “vocation,” a word which is rooted in the Latin word meaning “to call.” Unlike volunteers, who sign up to do something, we join the Society in order to be something. Volunteers are volunteers until the task is complete. Vincentians are Vincentians until we are complete. This vocation is our pathway of formation, leading us towards the holiness God wishes for us on our lifelong journey of becoming.
Succession planning in a Conference should never be a last-minute emergency. By sharing leadership, recognizing members’ gifts, encouraging new initiatives, and fostering consensus, Conferences naturally prepare future presidents. Leadership grows through service, trust, and friendship, making the path from member to chair, officer, and president a continuous process.
The Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal produced this video in which St. Catherine Labouré comes to life to tell the story of the first apparition of Mary.
The words of the Lord’s Prayer are so familiar to Christians that we perhaps sometimes recite them out of habit, without truly reflecting on the many graces that accompany them, graces that we seek for ourselves and for the neighbor.
One of the most pervasive (and pernicious) views of leadership is the idea that the leader is the one who always knows best, who makes every decision, and exercises leadership best by telling others what to do. This belief can lead those entrusted with leadership to make decisions in isolation, and without explanation.
Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which arose in the earliest days of the church, is also closely intertwined with our Vincentian history and spirituality. As Pope Francis explained, this devotion has its roots in the image of the wound in the crucified Christ’s side, which pours out blood and water as “a fountain of grace and a summons to a deep and loving encounter.”
The Vincentian Marian Youth, also known as the ‘Children of Mary’, is an international organization witnessing to the Church and our Vincentian charism.
Success in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul cannot be measured by money, numbers, or visible results, but by growth in holiness and love. Service is fruitful when it unites us with Christ and the poor. Failure is not poor outcomes, but failing to give ourselves in love and trust God.
A new Association of the Miraculous Medal group was installed in Panama City on May 10, 2026. The celebration marked a joyful step in spreading Marian devotion, Vincentian service, prayer, and evangelization in the local Church.
We are called to give as generously as we can, trusting that, like the poor widow, our generosity will be measured not by its price tag, but by the love, the selflessness, and the presence which accompanied it.
