Rome, 12 August 2019 

To all the Visitors of the Congregation of the Mission 

Dear confreres, 
May the grace and peace of Jesus be always with us! 

It has been now over a month since the end of our Visitors’ Meeting in Manila, Philippines. Let me express my deep gratitude to Jesus, the preparatory committee, the Province of the Philippines, Adamson University, all the many collaborators on the ground, and all of you, dear Visitors, for the wonderful atmosphere, so full of commitment. This was expressed so many times in words and deeds. Although we know we have challenges to face in the years to come, there is no reason not to remain full of hope for the future of our Little Company! In the next few months, I would like to return to sharing with you some further points on which we had reflected during the Visitors’ Meeting in Manila. 

With this brief letter, accompanying the one I wrote for the upcoming Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, I would like to focus on just one of those points. I ask you to do all you can to support the worldwide Vincentian Family initiative, which was launched, in the presence of Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square in October 2017, during the Symposium of the 400th Anniversary of the Vincentian Charism, the “Famvin Homeless Alliance” (FHA). The FHA is working on several initiatives, one of which is the “13 Houses Campaign.”

Some countries and provinces are already involved in the project. I take this opportunity to invite all the provinces, vice-provinces, regions, and international missions, as we prepare to celebrate our Holy Founder, to come together as Vincentian Family in a given country to continue or develop collaboration with the FHA and the “13 Houses Campaign.” If plans are still not underway to get involved with the FHA, I encourage you to call together the Vincentian Family National Committee. If there is not one yet, then call the representatives of all the branches of the Vincentian Family to meet for this common project. 

During the Visitors’ Meeting, the International Coordinator of the FHA, Mark McGreevy, presented the Vincentian Homeless Alliance and the “13 Houses Campaign” to us. The FHA already is producing many excellent fruits! Your continuous participation or the beginning of it, your encouragement and support certainly are making or will make a tremendous difference. 

So often, we see that what is needed in a given situation are persons who bring together others with talents, gifts, and a readiness to help. As Visitors, I would like to encourage you to continue providing the energy and inspiration to unite all the branches of the Vincentian Family toward collaboration on a common project. 

I am very aware that most of you, because of many other commitments and responsibilities, will not be able to be involved directly with the FHA, but you could play an indispensable role through other confreres and by encouraging all the branches of the Vincentian Family to come together and commit to this common project. 

While thanking you for what you are and do, I ask Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Saint Vincent de Paul, and all the Saints, Blessed, and Servants of God of the Vincentian Family to intercede for us. 

Have a wonderful celebration, together with the whole Vincentian Family, of the Solemnity of our Holy Founder! 

Your brother in Saint Vincent, 
Tomaž Mavrič, CM 
Superior General 

You can download the letter for the Feast of St. Vincent addressed to the Vincentian Family in several languages from these links.

Available for download are also two materials from Famvin Homeless Alliance about their activity and their annual theme: