Congregation of the Mission
The Congregation of the Mission (Latin: Congregatio Missionis), abbreviated CM and commonly called the Vincentians or Lazarists, is a Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men founded by Vincent de Paul. It is associated with the Vincentian Family, a loose federation of organizations that look to Vincent de Paul as their founder or patron.
"Lazarists" redirects here. For the knights of the Christian military order also known as Lazarists, see Order of Saint Lazarus.Abbreviation
CM
Vincentians, Paules, Lazarites, Lazarists, Lazarians
April 17, 1625
Paris, France
Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right (for Men)[1]
General Motherhouse
Via dei Capasso 30, 00164 Rome, Italy[2]
- Rome, Italy
3,100 as of 2021
Latin:
Evangelizare pauperibus misit me
English:
He sent me to bring Good News to the poor
Tomaž Mavrič, CM[2]
Saint Vincent de Paul, CM
Nuntia and Vincentiana
Mission[edit]
Inspired by the "first mission" of Chátillon-les-Dombes and Folleville,[3] where he delivered his first mission sermon, St. Vincent de Paul discovered the need and importance of popular missions and general confessions. His concern to form a group of missionaries for the most abandoned areas of France was born in him, and in 1625 he founded the Congregation of the Mission[4] as an apostolic society together with other priests, Anthony Portail, M. Belin, Francis de Coudray and John de la Salle. Years later, this mission found its motto in the passage Luke 4:18, "Evangelizare pauperibus misit me" (The Holy Spirit sent me to bring the Good News to the poor).
In 1633, motivated by that same Spirit, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac founded the Company of the Daughters of Charity, a group of women dedicated to serving the "poorest of the poor." Prayer and community life were essential elements of their vocation of service, with a characteristic spirit of humility, simplicity and charity.[5]
Mother House[edit]
The Mother House (Maison Mère) is the successor of the first Mother House which was the former priory of Saint Lazare. This house, located at 95 rue de Sèvres, was the former residence of the Duke of Lorges, and was made available to the Congregation of the Mission by the French government in 1817. Finally, in 2006, the French State made the Congregation of the Mission the owner of the house and its grounds.[8]
The Mother House consists of a series of buildings around a paved courtyard. The entrance is in the central neo-Renaissance style pavilion at the back of the courtyard. In a niche on the façade is a statue of Saint Vincent de Paul.[9]
Currently, for the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Congregation of the Mission, the Vincentians are renovating the Mother House, with the aim of accommodating those seeking spiritual enrichment, especially members of all branches of the Vincentian Family, pilgrims and people of faith.[10]
There are people who do not belong to groups or congregations of consecrated life, but who live the spirit of St. Vincent, his spirituality and charism; they are volunteers, they are in parishes, schools, hospitals and so many other places.[11]
The spirituality of Vincent de Paul has influenced the foundation of other societies of apostolic life and even of some institutes of consecrated life which, in communion, form today what is called the Vincentian family.8 There are 170 congregations, with 2 million people involved, and groups of lay people, which have grown from a "family" to a "movement", reaching almost 4 million people:[11]
United States of America[edit]
The Vincentians travelled to the United States in 1816 and two years later established St. Mary's of the Barrens seminary.[21] They founded Niagara University (1856), St. John's University (1870), and DePaul University (1898).[22]
The Eastern Province's headquarters is located in Germantown, PA located next to the Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. The priests of this province serve in several parishes along the eastern sea board. The also founded and still run Niagara University along with St. John's University (New York City). They also has a sub-province in Panama.
The Western Province of the USA has a mission in Kenya, where in conjunction with parish ministry water projects have been initiated to provide clean water to the people.[22]
The New England Province was founded in 1904 by Vincentians from Poland. They staff parishes in New York and Connecticut. The provincial headquarters is in Manchester, Connecticut.[23]
Members of the congregation include:
The religious congregation runs the following institutions of higher education:
Institutions formerly run by the Congregation:
The Vincentian fathers also run a number of secondary schools, most notably in Dublin, Ireland, where the order is in charge of two such institutions.