Dear confreres,
In this jubilee year, the Congregation of the Mission has experienced extraordinary moments of grace in Paris, culminating in the celebration of the IV centenary of its foundation. The event, inaugurated with the Liturgy of the Word in Rome in 2023 by Fr. Tomaž Mavrič CM, invited us to clothe ourselves in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, embracing three fundamental dimensions: the prophetic dimension, the synodal dimension, and the missionary dimension.
This journey took us to the heart of our history: Gannes and Folleville, sites of the first missionary preaching; the Maison Mère, witness to the Vincentian charism; and the Rue du Bac, alive with the memory of Marian apparitions. We allowed ourselves to be challenged by the wounds of the world, as reminded by Mons. Vicente Nácher Tatay CM, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, and we prayed with the heart of Saint Vincent de Paul, in procession and adoration.
The reflections of Fr. Andrés Motto CM, Mons. Joseph Doré, and Fr. Robert Maloney CM passionately revisited the Church’s mission and our Vincentian charism: from opening to new ad gentes missions, to the formation of clergy, to active collaboration with the Vincentian Family. The roundtable and the testimonies of the Visitors highlighted the challenges and opportunities across different continents: from Latin America to Africa, from Europe to Asia-Pacific.
Finally, the remembrance of Pope Francis, the blessing of the 13 keys to the houses for the poor, and the prospect of the World Day of the Poor in Rome sealed this anniversary as a prophetic sign of renewed commitment.
We invite all confreres and communities to collaborate with Nuntia: send news, testimonies, experiences of mission and service to the poor. Your voice is a living part of our Vincentian Family. Write to us at: nuntia@cmglobal.org. Let us continue together, with courage and hope, to bear witness that the Vincentian charism is still a fire… and still a promise.
