Vincentian Encyclopedia
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What is the Vincentian Encyclopedia?
It is a collaborative effort to create a Vincentian encyclopedia of articles and other information useful for those who follow Vincent, Louise and their spiritual companions: a resource for those who are part of the Vincentian family and for others seeking reliable information on people, topics, and organizations related to the Vincentian family.
Featured Article
St. Vincent dePaul
Vincent had a passion for the poor and a genius for networking and organizing others to meet the full range of needs, both material and spiritual, of those who live on the margins of society.
St. Vincent DePaul (1581-1660) was not only the founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) but also the Daughters of Charity, the Confraternities of Charity and Ladies of Charity (1617).
A man of deep faith and enormous creativity, he is known as the "father of the poor" and "Universal Patron of Charity". His contributions to the education of priests and services for the poor shaped our church's role in the modern world.
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Vincentian Vocabulary | Who We Are | Where We Serve | What We Do | Our History | Our Spirituality | Working Together | Youth | Research
3 June in History
1653: Saint Vincent preached a conference to first Sisters on "loyalty that we owe God in all our lives." During the conference he assured them: "God is the Father of the Daughters of Charity in a special way, so they should not aspire to please Him. A Daughter of Charity is a tree He planted and who should bear fruit for God."
1904: During the Russo-Japanese War, ambulances for the wounded have been divided into five separate divisions. One of them (medical division of Warsaw) was entrusted to Polish Daughters and given name of St. Vincent de Paul. Five Daughters of Charity have been designated to leave with staff and nurses. On June 3, they mounted into the train taking them through Siberia far behind Lake Baikal.
1905: In Rome, St. Pius X approved the Association of the Miraculous Medal founded in Galicja (then, territory of Poland under Austrian-Hungary administration)at the dawn of the twentieth century by Fr. Francis Domaradzki CM. The first Associations were approved in Paris and its region already in 1837 gathering almost 250 thousand girls and boys. On July 8, 1909 this Association was given a statutes from the Holy See approving it worldwide. The Association aimed in bringing all its members, children and adults, to honour Mary conceived without sin working to acquire a personal perfection and apostolate to others. The Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission is, de iuris, director general of the Association which, at present, is widespread throughout the world. Worldwide community of AMM has over 10 million members. In Poland itself the Association was outlawed after WWII by communist government. Then it was reactivated in 1980 as Association of Marian Apostolate (Stowarzyszenie Apostolatu Maryjnego).
1918: Association of the Miraculous Medal in the US Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission is established in St. Mary's Seminary in Perryville, Missouri, USA. At the beginning it was operated by the seminary students under guidance of their superior. In 1924, Fr Joseph Finney CM became the first Director and hold this position until his death in 1962. Three years earlier, in March 1915 Central Association of the Miraculous Medal was founded by Fr. Joseph Skelly in the US Eastern Province of Congregation of the Mission in St.Joseph's Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Fr. Skelly send invitations around to collect funds to build the new seminary and a copy of Miraculous Medal was attached to each letter.
1939: In Rome, Pope approved the appointment of Fr. Salvatore Pane, as Apostolic Prefect of Tigre, in Abyssinia.
1948: Fr. Jean-Marie Planchet died in Mother House. There aren't many records in the Secretariat on him. But he left a lot of his own works. He was born in the Loire department on July 23, 1870. He entered small Company in the age of nineteen. In 1894 he went to China and was ordained a priest in Beijing on May 30, 1896 by Bishop Sarthou. Soon, publishing became his regular missionary apostolate. He composed several works in Chinese, for example, a concordance of the four evangelists, an explanation of the Beijing catechism, a little treaty on the mortification and another on the existence of God. Starting from 1916, Mr. Planchet issued a directory on the Missions in China and Japan in ten volumes. Each of them comprised about six hundred pages of valuable information. He returned to France in 1932. For four years Fr. Planchet served as superior in Valfleury, and then moved to Mother House. In 1942, he published its Nouvellevie of Saints, which was welcomed by the religious press. It was such a success that in five years second edition was made.
Vincentian People, Places and Ideas
Many people in the Society and Church of Vincent de Paul's time had an influence on his life and work.
- Vincentian Heritage People provides backgrounds of the lives of some of these people.
Some of those who follow Vincent's approach to proclaiming the Gospel are recognized at Saints and Blessed by the Church.
- Vincentian Family Saints offers more information on these people.
There are reminders in many places in France of the life of Vincent de Paul.
- Vincentian Heritage Places provides details of some of these places.
Vincent and Louise were masters in fostering collaboration among groups that normally had little contact.
Former Superior General, Fr. Robert Maloney, CM often pointed out how the circle of poverty is increasing.
He reminded people that more than ever we need to expand the "circle of solidarity" and often invited us to be creative especially in reaching out to the young.
Reflection for Sunday Readings
- Breath that Creates, Gives Life and Renews
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has come so that his followers, his sheep, may have life and have it to the full. He passes on to them his breath.
- Full reflection: Pentecost Sunday, Year A-2023
- Emmanuel, That Is to Say, God-with-Us
Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, is Emmanuel, God-with-us. He is with us always.
- Full reflection: Ascension, Year A-2023
Getting to Know the Vincentian Family
In the more than 300 years since Vincent and Louise died many have been inspired to walk in their footsteps. Collectively they are known as the Vincentian Family. The following section is devoted to information about what is common and unique in the ways these people walking in the "way of Vincent."
Vincentian-Setonian Researchers
The Congregation of the Mission history project described below is but one example of what the followers or Vincent and Louise are studying and writing about. Many others are researching and writing.
- Vincentian-Setonian Researchers is the place for people to describe the work they are engaged in and the kind of things they would find helpful in their work.
Other Uses of this resource
How to post news of your Vincentian ministry
Following this link will take you to a list of Vincentian ministries.
As this encyclopedia grows in viewership your organization will receive additional visibility if it is listed here.
Using this site to collaborate on a document
Consider yourself as a member of a committee charged with writing an article on Vincentian formation.
History of the Congregation of the Mission Project
Fr. John Rybolt, CM, and others are currently writing a projected five volume history of the Congregation of the Mission.
The project began in 1992. Upon the death of José MarÃa Romón Fuentes, C.M., Father John Rybolt was appointed to continue the work begun byJosé MarÃa Romón Fuentes, C.M., and Luigi Mezzadri, C.M.
This began in 2004, resulting first in an outline of the entire work, divided into four volumes: Vol. III: From the French Revolution to 1843; Vol. IV: 1843-1878; Vol. V: 1878-1915; Vol. VI: 1915-1984. We conclude at 1984, it being the year of approval of the new Constitutions.
The following segments are the first in a series of articles concerning the history of the Congregation following the French Revolution.
Additional Technical Resources
Wikipedia article on "How to Edit"
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