Paúles missionaries celebrate 400 years

The Vicancian family celebrates this year the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission, an Apostolic Life Society erected by San Vicente de Paul with the mission of evangelizing the poor and forming the clergy.

For the P. Tomaž Mavrič, superior general, this commemoration involves “a moment of grace” for all who are part of this “great family”, composed of priests and brothers, known as “Vicentine or Paúles missionaries.”

In conversation with ACI Prensa, Fr. Mavrič, of Argentine origin, explained that San Vicente de Paul would never have imagined that he would found a congregation, remembering that his charisma and vicentine spirituality has endured over time.

“Our source is the Gospel, it is Jesus who says: ‘The Father has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.’

“We try to continue Jesus’ mission on earth, just that. That must be our charisma, until the end of the world,” he said.

Two missions: evangelize the poor and train priests

He recalled that San Vicente experienced two meetings that deeply marked his life and that they were the beginning of a personal conversion and his mission. “It was in the Parish of Folleville (France), where they realized that people were spiritually abandoned. Here she understood the need to go to the people and the peripheries, and it was the beginning of the popular missions.”

In the parish of Châtillon he could also be in contact with the sick families of Tifus, something “that opened her eyes to begin her mission, after realizing the material and spiritual needs of people.”

In addition, the French saint saw the need to train the clergy, most without a spiritual basis. “It was then that he saw that he had to form in seminars, form priests and prepare them to go to the peripheries, to go to people. San Vicente began to found seminars and this is still part of our charisma,” he said.

Pope Francis was Vicentino “from heart”

Fr. Tomaž Mavrič recalled the attention and affection that Pope Francis gave to the Vicentina family during the years of his pontificate. “He always showed us closeness and openness, coming to visit Madagascar’s mission. He was always willing to receive us. His way of acting and living were Vicentinos,” he added.

In fact, he revealed that on one occasion, in a private way, Pope Francis came to affirm: “I was formed Jesuit in the spirituality of the charism, but my heart is Vicentine.”

“I did not mention it until now, until he returned to the father’s house,” said Fr. Mavrič with some nostalgia. Although he has not yet had the opportunity to meet with Pope Leo XIV, he said that “he knows our brothers from some of our missions in Peru.”

Present in more than 100 countries

In April, coinciding with the funeral of Pope Francis, an event took place in Paris to celebrate the anniversary of the Congregation of the Mission. “If I think of the entire congregation, the keyword is mercy, I think it is the reason we are here, for the mercy of God.”

This commemoration, he added, served to “thank for the whole past, ask for forgiveness for all the faults and sins we committed and ask for mercy and help Jesus for the future,” said the priest.

The Vicancian family is currently present on five continents with very varied ministries: missions, health works, care for street inhabitants, refugees, abandoned children, mothers heads of household, education, training, and promotion and development works.

In addition, it is made up of 225 branches from different communities of consecrated life and lay associations in more than 100 countries around the world. “We are an international congregation and this is a challenge for us.”

Among the most outstanding and known branches are the International Association of Charity (AIC), the Congregation of the Mission, the Daughters of Charity (founded with Santa Luisa de Marillac), the Society of San Vicente de Paúl, (founded by Blessed Federic (Misevi), the Sisters of Charity of Santa Juana Anthida Touret and many others.

In the case of Europe, he stressed that the lack of religious and vocations to consecrated life “is an opportunity to invite, to call brothers from other countries where numbers are still very strong or are increasing.” He indicated that on continents such as Africa or Asia “the numbers are growing.” In August, in fact, 21 priests and 12 deacons will be ordered in Vietnam.

He exalted in this context the availability of the missionary brothers, who “are willing to go to everyone, where they ask for it.”

He also said that the congregation is not only made up of priests, underlining the relevance of the brothers: “We can breathe thanks to the two parts of the lung.”

“Without the mercy of Jesus, I don’t know where it would be”

Fr. Mavrič revealed to ACI Press the details of his vocation. Although he was born in Argentina, his parents were of Slovenian origin. “When communism arrived in 1945, after World War II, they spent three years in the refugee field in Austria, like thousands of other people, and then moved to Argentina.”

The Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, who was re -elected for a second period of six years in July 2022, again remarked the importance of mercy to refer to his vocation and his personal life.

As a child, he said, he played to be a priest, even his mother sewed him a habit. “In family gatherings, I played to give Mass. My uncle was a priest and brought me the hosts without consecrating.” However, at 36 he discovered that the Lord was really calling him, when he was sent to Russia’s mission.

“I have no merit, without the mercy of Jesus I would not be here, I would not have this vocation, it would be lost … it was his mercy that led me to perform this path. And the conversion continues,” he said.