The jubilee of the congregation founded by St. Vincent de Paul will include the presence of Cardinals Iglic, Souraphiel, and Rodé, more than 20 bishops, and 150 confreres. The celebrations will culminate on May 1 with a Mass presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of Paris.
The Congregation of the Mission enters its anniversary month, in which it will celebrate 400 years of history and service with a series of events culminating in a Solemn Mass on May 1 in Paris.
Festivities will begin on Sunday, April 27 with a gathering of more than 20 bishops and three cardinals of the Congregation of the Mission—Franc Rodé, Bokalic Iglic, and Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel. Then, more than 150 confreres representing the various provinces of the Congregation will participate in a preparatory Triduum to be held at the Maison Mère of the Vincentian Missionaries (95 Rue de Sèvres, 75006). This will include a day of prayer (Monday the 28th), a pilgrimage to Gannes and Folleville (Tuesday the 29th), and a day of formation (Wednesday the 30th).
The highlight of the week will be the Solemn Mass on Thursday, May 1, at the Church of Saint Eustache (Imp. St Eustache, Paris 75001), presided over by Bishop Emmanuel Tois, Auxiliary Bishop of Paris. The celebration will honor the spiritual legacy of St. Vincent de Paul and the Congregation’s enduring commitment to evangelization and service to the poor.
Pope Francis’ Greeting: A Call to Missionary Fidelity
In December 2024, Pope Francis sent a message to the Superior General of the Congregation, Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM, expressing his closeness to the Vincentian family and his hope that this anniversary would be an opportunity to renew their missionary commitment: “I pray that this significant anniversary may be an occasion of great joy and renewed fidelity to the conception of missionary discipleship, founded on the imitation of Christ’s preferential love for the poor.” This message continues to resonate with the nearly 3,000 members of the Congregation of the Mission who today evangelize and serve the poorest in over 100 countries.
The Holy Father emphasized the importance of this charism for the renewal of the Church and care for the most vulnerable, especially in the world’s peripheries. He also highlighted the role of young people in this mission: “I hope that the celebrations of the fourth centenary will underscore the importance of St. Vincent’s vision of serving Christ in the poor (…). I am convinced that his example can especially inspire young people, who, with their enthusiasm and generosity, are called to be bold and courageous witnesses of the Gospel.”
The Legacy of St. Vincent That Continues to Transform Lives
Founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625, the Congregation of the Mission was born with the purpose of evangelizing the poor and forming priests committed to charity and justice.
St. Vincent understood that serving those in greatest need required a well-organized structure. This led him to found the Ladies of Charity in 1617 (now the International Association of Charity, AIC), and in 1633, together with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity—the same congregation to which St. Catherine Labouré belonged, the visionary of the Miraculous Medal in 1830. This female congregation was considered “revolutionary,” in the words of Pope Francis, for breaking the tradition of cloistered life and instead taking their mission to the streets to care for the poor and sick.
Since its founding, the Congregation of the Mission has upheld its commitment to the most vulnerable—a mission now expressed in initiatives like the Famvin Homeless Alliance, including the “13 Houses” campaign, inspired by the same spirit that led St. Vincent to build homes for the poor in 1643.
With this 400th anniversary, the Congregation of the Mission reaffirms its commitment to the Gospel and service to the poor, inspired by the vision of St. Vincent de Paul.
The Vincentian Family and all those who wish to participate can attend the Masses via livestream on the Congregation’s YouTube channel.