Just
as this tree,
which has been growing in front of St. Vincent’s birthplace,
has continued to grow and put down roots for 300 years, so has
the family of the followers of the way of St. Vincent de Paul
grown and put down roots around the world. www.famvin.org
VICENTIAN FAMILY
General Information
Composed of many
groups and organizations around the world that have adapted the
mission, spirit and rules of St. Vincent
de Paul.
A
worldwide, living reality which exceeds over two million women and
men, laity and religious, Catholic and non-Catholics who honor St.
Vincent de Paul as their patron.
A
n
international family who shares a vision of service to the poor.
The Vincentian
Family Focusing on “Hunger” (2001 – 2003)
"After much reflection
on the various urgent forms of poverty in the world today, we
decided to focus as a family, from September 27, 2001 to September
27, 2003, on a single issue: hunger. The motto we will use
during this period is: “The Globalization of Charity: Fight
Against Hunger.”
The Vincentian Family Against Malaria (2003)
“1,080,000 deaths annually - one every 29
seconds”
From
the Circular Letter from the Leaders of the Vincentian Family
May 10, 2003:
"This year at our meeting in February we also decided, for the
first time in our history, to unite our energies as a Vincentian
Family in a common "political action" aimed at the eradication of
malaria. Besides affecting many members of our own Family in Africa,
Asia and Latin America, malaria have devastating affects in the
lives of countless others throughout the word. […]”
Fr. Benjamin Romo, C.M., Secretary, has sent the official and
detailed minutes of the recently completed meeting in Paris of
leaders of the Vincentian Family.
10th Meeting of the Heads of the Branches of the International
Vincentian Family
Paris Mother House of the Daughters of Charity, February 20-22, 2004
Lord Jesus, you who willed to become poor give
us eyes and a heart directed toward the poor; help us to
recognize you in them – in their thirst, their hunger, their
loneliness, and their misfortune.
Enkindle within our
Vincentian Family unity, simplicity, humility, and the fire of
love that burned in St. Vincent de Paul.
Strengthen us, so
that, faithful to the practice of these virtues, we may
contemplate you and serve you in the person of the poor, and may
one day be united with you and them in your Kingdom.
Conference of International
Catholic Organizations (ICO)
The Conference of the ICO's is:
A place for dialogue and coordination for some 40 ICO's
(International Catholic Organization) that, on the five continents,
gather more than 150 million lay people.
A
platform for the ICO's that, on the basis of an action in the field,
want to defend the dignity of people and meet the expectations of
the different fields and sectors that makes up society.
A place for reflection to carry out concerted
actions as an NGO before the international authorities of the United
Nations or before regional authorities, with the support of
specialized centers. […]
The
Conference is currently made up with 36 member organisations, four
associated organisations and four invited organisations. Those
international organisations of lay people, through their respective
national branches, are present on the five continents and in more
than 150 countries. They gather more than 150 million people.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
is one of the member organisations.
After the creation of the SDN, the concern of
several presidents of the catholic organizations of being present in
the international life, took totally another dimension at the time
while the Charter of the United Nations gave an consultative status
to the NGOs. The Church, who was considering since then that the
‘international’ pertained exclusively to the competence of the Holy
See, had invited lay people, through Pius XII, to commit themselves
to this “new field of apostolate”.
It was in this context that the INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER
had been founded in 1950, by the free initiative of 7 lay
people (most of them members of the International Catholic
Organizations). At this time the I.C.O.s were requesting their consultative
statutes with enthusiasm. A few years later around twenty of
them were recognized.
As the Center was constrained to look for other
sources of financing and to diversify its activities, it seemed to
be necessary in 1992, to work out new statutes, in accordance with
the Swiss law of the associations. The INTERNATIONAL
CATHOLIC CENTER OF GENEVA (I.C.C.G) was born. At the same time,
a protocol was signed with the Conferences of the I.C.O. in order to
set up solidarity connections respecting both of the entities.
relationship with the international world
information for the Bulletin INFORMATIONS INTERNATIONALES, published
in French, English and Spanish
formation and reflection
These 3 objectives remain in the intuition of
the founders and confirm the continuation of the commitment for 50
years.
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International Confederation of the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul - International General Council - 6, rue de Londres – 75009 París – France
Tel: 33 (0)1 53 45 87 53
Fax: 33 (0)1 42 61 72 56 Click here to contact
