Pilgrimage of the Reliquary of Saint Vincent de Paul - EN

Pilgrimage of the Image and the Reliquary of Saint Vincent de Paul

Background:

From the perspective of ecclesial experience, a pilgrimage with the reliquary of the Saints provides a wonderful opportunity for evangelization and the revitalization of the faith/charism.
A pilgrimage also provides us with an opportunity to share the charism and our Vincentian spirituality with many people, including many people outside the circle of the Vincentian Family.
Pilgrimages are also a source of vocations for the consecrated life and also enable us to recruit members to the different lay branches of the Vincentian Family.

Our Recent Experience:

The pilgrimage of the image and the reliquary of Saint Vincent de Paul to the peripheries has received an extraordinary response in that many people have come together for prayer and reflection … and yes, some participants have experienced true miracles.
Many favors and miracles have been recorded during the pilgrimage (living signs of Jesus’ presence through the intercession of Saint Vincent de Paul). People who have opened their hearts and who have trusted in Divine Province have received more than they ever dared to hope for.

We request that you

Dialogue together as members of the Vincentian Family and reflect on the possibility of such a pilgrimage to your country. Contact the Episcopal Conference of your country so that the larger diocesan community can participate in this event.
Decide on the places for this pilgrimage and insure that the image and the reliquary are able to be venerated throughout the country, especially in the peripheries.
Be aware of the fact that the programming of this event should, wherever possible, focus on the cathedrals of the diocese (as points of reference and as points of moving out to the peripheries, that is, marginalized parishes). Only after that should we begin to organize the arrival of the reliquary to the parishes and centers of the Vincentian Family.
In all of this the leaders and the advisors of the Vincentian Family have an important role to play.
Attempt to involve various lay groups and movements so that the pilgrimage takes on a true ecclesial significance (reaching out to groups beyond the Vincentian Family) … in this matter be mindful of visiting the leaders of the various congregations of men and women religious, pastors, vicars and bishops.

It should be remembered that when the pilgrimage includes members of multiple base movements in a diocese, then more people become involved in the process and this facilitates access to many different areas and regions of the country. We want to share this wonderful opportunity with as many people as possible and we do not want to limit this pilgrimage to the members of the Vincentian Family.

Our experience has shown that generally, the bishops and the priests are very open and interested in participating in such a pilgrimage.

Those who have organized this pilgrimage in their country have stated that individuals who were at first hesitant or doubtful, but who made a decision to organize this event, were surprised by the large number of people who participated in the event and who were genuinely moved by the experience (the movement of the Spirit). Literally countless favors and miracles unfolded before their eyes and these have been recorded in the book that accompanies the pilgrimage to every country.

Specifications of the coffer that contains the image and the reliquary of St. Vincent:

Dimensions: 200cm (length); 62cm (height); 80cm (width)
Weight: approximately 40 kilograms
Required lighting: 220 volts (interior) and 12 volts (exterior illumination for processions)
The coffer is made of aluminum and transparent plastic with 4 removeable handles for transportation and processions.
It is recommended that the coffer be transported by land, car, van or truck rather than an airplane.

PRACTICAL STEPS

Support & approval of the Vincentian Family.
Create a coordinating team, who will be responsible for:
- Marketing / publicity
- Preparing all materials
- Contacting Bishops, etc.
- Organizing the travel of the relic from one location to the next
- Organizing the transport of the relic into and out of the country
- Organizing the safe keeping of the relic in country
Order of internal contacts for scheduling the Pilgrimage:
1. 1^st contact – President of National Council of Bishops
2. 2^nd contact – Ordinaries of Dioceses
3. 3^rd contact – VF branches / centers
The VF needs to create the budget for the pilgrimage, as well as raise the money for it, which includes:
1. The cost of bringing the relic to the country / region
2. The allocation of vehicle(s) to transport it
3. Printing and dissemination of publicity, as well as materials being used for the pilgrimage
4. Any other expenses that may be incurred on the local level.
The program should be planned in 3 phases:
1. Preparation: what will be done to assist people in preparing to receive the relic;
2. The Pilgrimage Event itself – prayers, Liturgies, testimonies, etc.
3. Post-Event: how will the people be invited to continue to reap the fruit of the event
Publicity: in addition to what is done in country, it is important that the event be publicized throughout the Vincentian Family. Of special importance would be testimonies of its impact on a person’s life.