For two days, from January 31 to February 01 this year, the International Heads of the Vincentian Family came together for their annual meeting. It was held here in the Curia Generalizia of the Congregation of the Mission. More…Present in this gathering were representative from various Family branches, among them: Gregory Gay, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission; Sr. Evelyne Franc, Mother General of the Daughters of Charity; Marina Costa, International President of AIC; Jose Ramon Torremocha, International President of the SSVP; Yvon Laroche, Superior General of the Religious of St. Vincent; Sor Maria Luisa Colombo, Superior General of the Sisters of Charity of St. Jean Antide Thouret; Yasmine Cajuste, International President of the JMV; Sor Carolina Flores, Secretary of the International Coordinating Council of AMM; and Marcos Amador, member of the International Coordinating Council of MISEVI. Special guests at this year’s gathering were Sr. Mary Ann Daly, SC, Executive Director of the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America, and two from the Strasbourg Federation of the Sisters of Charity, Sr. Denise Baumann and Sr. Blandine Klein. Especially invited for the sessions was Fr. Robert Maloney, the present chairperson of the Commission on Systemic Change.
The meeting discussed, among other matters, the celebration of St. Vincent’s feast this year, the preliminary plans for the 350th anniversary (2010) of the death of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, the logo of the Vincentian Family International, activities and projects of the Commission on Systemic Change, and the proposed plan for continental sessions for Vincentian Family Leaders and Advisors, with special focus on systemic change. On the last item a later communication will be issued, particularly on the details of the program.
The gathering was deemed quite fruitful and convivial. All in all the 24 participants were the most number that has attended this yearly meeting since it started in 1994. Everyone came away with a stronger sense of the internationality of our Vincentian Family, spanning the five continents. It is hoped that encounters like this would strengthen the desire for collaboration and partnership in programs for the poor. Next year’s meeting is scheduled to be held in Madrid.
