We are missionaries
We have reached far,
we remain close.
We strive to grow in holiness, cultivating deep friendships among ourselves and dedicating ourselves with love to evangelization and service to the poor. We weave a network of charity that embraces the entire world, with no borders or limits to our commitment. This is who we are and what we do. This is our identity.
Do You Feel Called to Serve?
Your Adventure Begins Here
FAQ: Answers to Your Questions
Understanding the Congregation of the Mission
What is specific about the Congregation of the Mission?
The Congregation of the Mission is distinguished by its Vincentian charism: to evangelize the poor and serve them with love and respect, as St. Vincent de Paul did. It also focuses on the formation of laypeople and priests.
Are all members of the Congregation of the Mission priests?
No. The Congregation consists of both priests and brothers. Brothers are not ordained ministers but fully share in the Vincentian mission, consecration, and work in various areas such as education, administration, and pastoral ministry.
In which countries is the Congregation of the Mission present?
The Congregation is present in over 95 countries, bringing the Vincentian charism to diverse cultures and needs. This includes work in parishes, missions, universities, and charitable projects.
Discerning the Missionary Vocation
How do I know if I am called to missionary life?
Signs include a deep desire to serve the poor, a meaningful prayer life, and joy at the thought of living in community. If these resonate with you, it may be a call. Speaking with a spiritual guide can help clarify it.
What does it mean to live a missionary vocation?
Living a missionary vocation means dedicating your life to serving the poor, evangelizing through words and actions, and maintaining a close relationship with God in community. It is a path of love and total dedication.
How do I know if I am called to be a priest or a brother?
Reflect on your gifts and how you can best serve others. Priests focus on sacraments and preaching, while brothers contribute through other essential areas. A vocational director can help you discern.
How do I know if God is calling me?
You may feel an inner desire for something greater, an attraction to service, and peace when imagining this life (even with the natural fear of commitment). Prayer and the counsel of others can help identify this call.
Process and Support for Joining
Where do I start?
The first step is spiritual accompaniment to help you discern what you sense in your personal prayer. Examine your deepest desires in the presence of God and reflect on them. Visiting one of our communities is also helpful to experience our missionary life firsthand.
What is the process to join the Congregation?
The journey includes stages such as discernment, initial formation (pre-seminary and novitiate), studies in theology or professional training for brothers, and missionary experiences. This process can take 5 to 10 years, depending on the individual.
Lives That Change Lives:
Vocation Stories

The Missionaries
The Congregation of the Mission, founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625, is a Roman Catholic community of priests and brothers dedicated to evangelizing the poor and forming clergy and laypeople. Also known as Lazarists, Vincentians, or Paules, we follow St. Vincent’s example, who understood that in serving the poor, we serve Christ Himself. For St. Vincent, serving the poor not only transforms those who receive help but also transforms us as followers of Jesus.
In addition to priests, there are brothers (consecrated religious). Although not priests with sacramental functions, they fully participate in Christ’s mission and the ministries of the Church, working directly with the poor and advancing the mission of the Congregation. Since the Congregation’s founding in 1625, brothers have been essential to the functioning of the houses and charitable works St. Vincent initiated, such as the House of St. Lazarus, a model of service and social action.
The Missionaries
The Congregation of the Mission, founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625, is a Roman Catholic community of priests and brothers dedicated to evangelizing the poor and forming clergy and laypeople. Also known as Lazarists, Vincentians, or Paules, we follow St. Vincent’s example, who understood that in serving the poor, we serve Christ Himself. For St. Vincent, serving the poor not only transforms those who receive help but also transforms us as followers of Jesus.
In addition to priests, there are brothers (consecrated religious). Although not priests with sacramental functions, they fully participate in Christ’s mission and the ministries of the Church, working directly with the poor and advancing the mission of the Congregation. Since the Congregation’s founding in 1625, brothers have been essential to the functioning of the houses and charitable works St. Vincent initiated, such as the House of St. Lazarus, a model of service and social action.
The Mission
Our vocation calls us to live with a sense of mission, whether in our own countries or on other continents where the Gospel has not yet reached or needs revival. We are also dedicated to education, healthcare ministry, prison outreach, and spiritual accompaniment of various communities. We promote devotion to the Miraculous Medal and collaborate with the Vincentian Family to expand our mission of service to the poor and needy.
Who Do We Serve?
Our mission is not only based on direct service to the poor, but also on formation. We accompany clergy and laity, helping them to prepare to participate more fully in evangelization, equipping them to be witnesses to the Gospel in their own contexts.
We are present in over 95 countries, with 462 local communities and 2,909 members committed to evangelizing the poor. Our international missions span areas of great need, such as Angola, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Our Ad Gentes missions extend to places like India, Malawi, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, bringing Christ’s message to regions where it is still little known. In addition, we conduct popular missions in our provinces, accompanying local communities.
The Mission

As Vincentians, we are pastors, parish priests, university chaplains, professors, and pastoral ministers. Our mission is to preach, conduct parish missions, and offer lay formation, especially in underserved communities. Our dream is to make the world a home where everyone reaches the fullness that only God can provide.
Our vocation calls us to live with a sense of mission, whether in our own countries or on other continents where the Gospel has not yet reached or needs revival. We are also dedicated to education, healthcare ministry, prison outreach, and spiritual accompaniment of various communities. We promote devotion to the Miraculous Medal and collaborate with the Vincentian Family to expand our mission of service to the poor and needy.
Who Do We Serve?

In the Congregation of the Mission, our call is clear: to follow Christ, the evangelizer of the poor. We are dedicated to bringing His message of hope, justice, and love to the most needy. We serve those on the social, economic, and spiritual peripheries, always striving to be bearers of the light of the Gospel in their lives.
Our mission is not only based on direct service to the poor, but also on formation. We accompany clergy and laity, helping them to prepare to participate more fully in evangelization, equipping them to be witnesses to the Gospel in their own contexts.
We are present in over 95 countries, with 462 local communities and 2,909 members committed to evangelizing the poor. Our international missions span areas of great need, such as Angola, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Our Ad Gentes missions extend to places like India, Malawi, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, bringing Christ’s message to regions where it is still little known. In addition, we conduct popular missions in our provinces, accompanying local communities.
Resources for Discernment



10 Reasons Why a Young Person Should Join the Congregation of the Mission as a Vincentian Missionary
Let’s Talk About Your Vocation
Europe
- Br. Francisco Berbegal, CM
- vocations.cevim@cmglobal.org
- +34 608 22 19 29
Africa
- Fr. Calisto Chaúque CM
- vocations.coviam@cmglobal.org
- +258 84 487 1490
United States
- Fr. Toshio Sato, CM
- vocations.ncv@cmglobal.org
- +1 (501) 420-4405
Asia and Oceania
- Fr. Benjamin Rayappan CM
- vocations.apvc@cmglobal.org
- +34 602 68 11 74
Latin America
- Fr. Rolando Gutiérrez, CM
- vocaciones.clapvi@cmglobal.org
- +506 85 195 832