Father G. Gregory Gay III,C.M. a Baltimore native, was elected as the worldwide superior general of the Congregation of the Mission, known as the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, and the Daughters of Charity during the community’s general assembly (June 5 – 29, 2004)in Rome in 2004.

Father Gay, a graduate of John Carroll High School in Bel Air, Maryland oversees almost 4,000 Vincentian priests and brothers and more than 23,000 Daughters of Charity in 84 countries. He himself entered USA Vincentian Eastern Province in 1973 and was ordained priest in 1980.

Born in 1953 priest is the 23rd successor of St. Vincent de Paul, who founded the Congregation in 1625, and the second Baltimorean to hold the position of Superior General.

In an interview he gave August 8, 2005, while visiting his home parish of St. Stephen, Father Gay said his election was a “big surprise.” Since 2000, he has been provincial leader of the Central American province in Guatemala.

He worked as a missionary in Panama from 1985  1999.  He was Visitor (Provincial) of the Province of Central America until 2004 when he was elected Superior General.  For several years before going to Panama, he was a professor, formator, chaplain and member of the justice and peace council at Vincentian-run Niagara University in New York.  While in Central America he was President of the Conference of Religious in Guatemala.

Role, Responsbilities and Duration of Office

The Congregation of the Mission  Community of Priests and Brothers (Society of Apostolic Life) in the Roman Catholic Church.  “Superior General” is the official title given to the leader of the Congregation of the Mission. In English speaking countries, members of the Congregation of the Mission are known variously as “Vincentian Priests and Brothers”, “Vincentian Fathers and Brothers”, “Vincentians”, or even “the Vins”. Each Superior General is regarded as the successor of St Vincent de Paul, the founder and first Superior General of the Congregation. The Congregation of the Mission is organized into provinces, each with a Provincial Superior referred to as the “Provincial” or the “Visitor”.

The Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission is also the Superior General of the Daughters of Charity.

The role and responsibilities of the Superior General are set out in the Constitutions of the Congregation of the Mission (Part Three, Chapter 1 Central Administration). The Superior General is elected by the members of a General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission for a six year term and can be re-elected for a second six year term. He ceases to hold office with the acceptance of office by his successor, or by his resignation accepted by a General Assembly or the Holy See.

See the Gallery of the Superiors General

Seal of the Superior General