The VSO is a new office of service established by the Superior General and the General Council of the Congregation of the Mission on June 15, 2002.

The goal of the VSO is:

• To assist the poorer provinces, vice-provinces and missions of the Congregation of the Mission with writing successful grant proposals to funding organizations for their works and needs.

The word “missions” in the goal statement refers to both the poorer foreign missions of provinces and to the new international missions under the jurisdiction of the Superior General and his Council.

The VSO serves as an intermediary between a province, vice-province or mission and various funding organizations for the application and awarding of grant funds for a project.

The VSO is an optional service in the Congregation of the Mission that a province, vice-province or mission can use. Since it is not the intention of the General Curia to centralize all grant proposals through the VSO, a province, vice-province or mission is free to continue to send grant proposals for projects directly to funding organizations or to donors.

The VSO is a program under the jurisdiction of the Superior General and his Council. The staff of the VSO consists of myself, as the Administrator. The VSO Administrator is appointed by and accountable to the Superior General and his Council. Simply stated, the job description of the VSO Administrator is to serve as an international grant writer for the Congregation of the Mission.

The VSO is located at St. Vincent’s Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, which is the Motherhouse of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission in the United States. You are most welcome to come and visit the VSO at anytime.

Vincentian Solidarity Office by Peter A. Campbell, C.M. (VT-2003-01-13-ENG-VSO.doc)

Letter of Creation of VSO (VT-2002-06-04-ENG-VSO.DOC)