Introduction:

In these last few days we have heard many wonderful things about the growth of the Association, its place in the Church today, as well as the challenges it faces in the lives of the poor. From these we have determined some commitments and concrete plans of action.

In this conference, I wish to reflect with you on the AMM in relation to the wider Vincentian Family. I shall do this by first of all presenting briefly an update on the Vincentian Family. Then I shall speak about collaboration and its urgency. Finally, I present some projects where the AMM can collaborate with the other branches of the Vincentian Family.

To put us in a historical perspective, I wish to recall that in the 2001 International Encounter, mention was already made of the relationship between AMM and the rest of the Vincentian Family. Among the convictions approved in that meeting were the following:

1. The Miraculous Medal is related to each one of the branches of the VF
2. The Vincentian charism enriches the AMM.

The commitments that were approved included also the following:

1. To grow in our sense of community and ownership of the Association.
2. To understand the other branches of the VF and to appreciate the wealth in their diversity.
3. To collaborate with the Vincentian Family in evangelization and common projects for the service of the poor.

In short, in the previous meeting as it is in this year's, AMM is rightly perceived as an ecclesial, Marian, and Vincentian association. These three characteristics form part of the very identity of our Association. This, of course, echoes what the International Statutes number 2 says about the purposes of the AMM: “ sanctification of its members, integral formation in the Christian life, and the apostolate of charity, especially toward the most abandoned. Mary's Holy Medal, both by the symbolism which it shows and by the power it enjoys, offers both a model and assistance for those purposes .” The Vincentian mission to serve the poor is something that lies at the heart of Mary's counsel to those devoted to her. Because of this, AMM rightly belongs to the great family of Vincent de Paul.

1. THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY TODAY

Since the first AMM International Meeting in 2001, the Vincentian Family has grown steadily, not only in number but also in the profound knowledge of its charism. I am happy to give you an update on this.

•  Members

Spread throughout more than 135 countries all over the world, our Vincentian Family is unique in that it consists of lay faithful and consecrated persons, adults and young people, men and women, married and single, who continue to respond to the vocation to evangelize and serve the poor after the manner of St. Vincent de Paul. In general, at present the principal branches of our Family boast of the following membership, presence, and commitments:

International Association of Charity (AIC): 1617

Mission/Motto: Against poverty to act together.
Number of Members: 250,000+
Countries where they are present: 52
Activities: housing, service to AIDS victims and those terminally ill, community development and savings project, promotion of justice and equality, defense of women's rights and dignity, representation before the UN, and other international organizations, etc.
Current President: Marina Costa
Present General Headquarters: Louvain-la-neuve , Belgium
International Assembly: February 2005, Sto. Domingo

Congregation of the Mission (CM): 1625

Mission / Motto: He has sent me to bring the gospel to the poor.
Number of Members: 4034 (incorporated and admitted)
Countries where they are present: 85
Activities: Popular mission, formation of clergy, missio ad gentes, schools and universities, parishes, retreats, direction of other members of the VF, etc.
Current Superior General: G. Gregory Gay
Present General Headquarters: via dei Capasso, Rome , Italy
General Assembly: July 2004, Rome

Daughters of Charity (DC): 1633

Mission /Motto: The charity of Christ urges us.
Number of Members: 21,564
Countries where they are present: 94
Activities: Hospitals, schools, clinics, hospices, pastoral ministry, etc.
Current Mother General: Sr. Evelyne Franc
Present General Headquarters: rue du Bac, Paris , France
General Assembly: June 2003, Paris

Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP): 1833

Mission / Motto: Enfold the world in a network of charity
Number of Members: 1,000.000+
Countries where they are present: 130+
Activities: home visits, emergency food and lodging assistance, development of schools and hospitals for the poor, retirement homes for the elderly, orphanages, summer camps, etc.
Current President: Jose Ramon Torremocha
Present General Headquarters: rue du Pres-aux-Clercs, Paris
General Assembly : June 2005, Salamanca, Spain

Vincentian Marian Youth (JMV), Children of Mary , Marian Youth : 1847

Mission /Motto: To Jesus with Mary
Number of Members: 123,831
Countries where they are present: 64
Activities: Social-charitable services, evangelization, catechesis of the young, popular missions, missio ad gentes
Current President: Yasmine Cajuste
Present General Headquarters: International Secretariat in Madrid , Spain
2 nd General Assembly: August 2005, Paris

Association of the Miraculous Medal (AMM): 1909

Mission / Motto: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you”
Number of Member: Between 1+ Million
Countries where they are present: 55
Activities: Home visit, charity for the poor, assist the CM ministries and missions
Current International Coordinator: Benjamin Romo CM
Second International Meeting: October 2005, Rome

Vincentian Lay Missionaries (MISEVI): 1999

Number of Members: 17 full members; several collaborators
Countries where they are present: 10
Activities: Missio ad Gentes, assisting the CM
Current President: Eva Villar
Present General Headquarters: Madrid , Spain
International Meeting: December 2005, Berceau , France

Religious of St. Vincent (RSV): 1845

Mission / Motto: To proclaim Christ in all ways.
Number of Members: 252
Countries where they are present: 6
Activities: evangelization of the family and the youth, evangelization of the poor, collaboration in the apostolates with the laity
Current Superior General: Yvon Laroche
Present General Headquarters: Rome , Italy

These are the principal branches, but they are not the only ones who consider themselves part of the Vincentian Family. In my visits this year to Indonesia, Tanzania and Ethiopia, I found other priests, sisters and lay people who claim they also belong to the Vincentian Family because they regard St. Vincent, generally, as inspiration, model, or guide. I f ind the general criterion for membership in our Family workable. Consequently, following this criterion our Vincentian Family could easily number more than 2 million. Included would be those who work in parishes, hospitals, schools and universities, popular mission programs, and social centers of the Vincentian Fathers and the Daughters of Charity, as well as many other religious congregations. They can also conceivably include non-Catholics and even non-Christians. With this large membership, one can just imagine the great potential that St. Vincent 's Family has today in the service of the poor.

1.2 Recent Developments in the Vincentian Family

In the last 10 years, the Vincentian Family has developed in several ways:

• There is a increasing desire to know and live the Vincentian charism. Some congregations and associations who only now are coming to a greater appreciation of their Vincentian character are thirsting to know more about our spirituality. Indeed, the relevance of St. Vincent 's charism to the world today is being discussed in conferences, seminars, workshops and meetings in many places. Likewise, formation programs are continually being organized in Europe, Latin America , the Asia Pacific, and in other regions. As a consequence, literature on Vincentian charism has increased significantly.

• There is a growing appreciation of the missionary dimension of our charism. More and more members of our Family feel the need to take up the work for the poor, wherever they are found, in one's own and in other countries. The lay members of our Family are particularly inspired to undertake their share in this mission.

• An intensive network of communication continues to expand . The website of the Vincentian Family has been a great help in this regard. Thanks to this network of communication, now we are more aware of different situations of poverty, the capabilities of each branch, the linkages between these, etc. This has truly helped efforts towards collaboration in the formation of our members and in our service of the poor, particularly those affected by recent calamities and disasters. 

• There is a stronger push to organize and collaborate. Our various branches are organizing on different levels - local, national, and regional. Several countries today have set up coordinating councils of the Vincentian Family. In Latin America there is a regional group of collaboration, called Latin American Council of the Vincentian Family. The JMV has an international secretariat in Madrid consisting of volunteers from different countries and continents, etc. 

• The poor are served and evangelized through a direct contact with them . The net effect of more extensive contact and wide-ranging organization is that today, there are more members of the Vincentian Family who serve the poor. The more recent programs undertaken by the worldwide Vincentian Family, such as the Fight against Hunger, Campaign against Malaria, and others, have benefited a large number of the poor.

Of course, there are still areas that could be attended to and improved upon.. But by and large, these developments point to the direction the Spirit seems to be leading our Vincentian Family today: the service of the poor. But equally, they point to the great challenge implied in them, that is, the need and urgency to work together, to collaborate, and to promote partnership among ourselves and with other groups. Collaboration has become imperative.

2. THE IMPERATIVE OF COLLABORATION

The former Superior General, Fr. Robert Maloney, said in so many words that with our number, the Vincentian Family can truly become a formidable force that could work on behalf of the poor. Members of the AIC are always reminded by their theme: “Against all forms of poverty, we are to act together.” These words have become prophetic today. They echo what St. Vincent de Paul said: “The poor continue to multiply in number; their cry goes up to heaven. God calls us to serve them, but he wants that we do it together.”

Before discussing the reasons for collaboration, a brief clarification on it, I believe, is necessary. Collaboration, as understood in our Family, is a call to work together, to respond to our common vocation as one. This presupposes 2 things: respect for each branch's identity, and freedom to join or not. We remain who we are as individual associations within one family, yet we choose to work together, perhaps on some projects, for the greater good of the poor. No one is forced to join, and no one is forced to stay on. We are all free to join or not to join.

2.1 Why collaborate?

Having said that, let me now discuss on why there is need to collaborate. I do not believe there is need for me to convince you about the reasons why we need to collaborate. Collaboration as a pastoral strategy is deeply rooted in our Vincentian charism. But nowadays I see one very significant reason for collaboration. Globalization and information technology have made us more aware not only of the extent of poverty but also of the imperative of collaboration and partnership.

The United Nations were well aware of this when they drew up the so-called UN Millennium Development Goals. In fact, one of these specifically seeks to develop global partnership for development. 4 The UN believes that individual countries may not have the resources to respond to widespread poverty, but if many countries join forces, the aim of reducing poverty by half in 2015 becomes an attainable goal. In short, the United Nations, just like the Vincentian Family, are convinced that c ollaboration can make a world of difference in the lives of the poor.

Collaboration, of course, is something that Vincent, Louise de Marillac, and Ozanam, had discovered several centuries ago. They believed that the only way to help the poor more effectively and consistently was by forming groups and establishing associations; in other words, by making people work together. Poverty is a social, political, economic and moral issue. The way to fight it and to help the poor is to bring together economists, politicians, and social scientists, religious men and women, etc. Today people from all walks of life, even including entertainers, have joined in this fight against poverty.

2.2 The Vincentian Way of Collaboration

But, is there is a distinctive Vincentian way of collaboration and partnership? What are its characteristics? I can think of two distinctive characteristics.

2.2.1 Multi-level Collaboration

St. Vincent has taught us that the mission of helping the poor is incumbent not only on priests and sisters but on all. For our great Father, everyone and anyone can come together and join forces in the work with the poor: clergy and laity, members of the nobility and even the poor themselves, Christian and non-Christian, politicians or ordinary citizens.

In this time of globalization, multi-level collaboration is a must. Partnership is desirable not only with different sectors in a particular country, but also with different international groups, religious or otherwise. We need to coordinate, network, and collaborate with other government, non-government agencies, national and international organizations, such as the UN, specifically in their work for the poor. Our experience tells us that there are many who are just too willing to cooperate and to be recruited for the service of the poor. We hope that the Vincentian Family can become a real instrument for effective collaboration.

•  Collaboration founded on genuine Vincentian spirituality.

More than anything else, the Vincentian way of collaboration is one that is rooted in Vincent's perspective of the poor. St. Vincent saw in the poor the very image of Christ himself. We heard St. Vincent tell the Daughters of Charity on February 13, 1646, “In the person of the poor, you serve Jesus Christ.”

This insight is familiar enough to us. However, many people who work for the poor do not share this particular Christian and evangelical perspective. Even those committed to the UN project against poverty do so for reasons of self-interest. Many of them say that helping Africa now will in the long run be good for America and for Europe . For us Christians, however, and particularly Vincentians, seeing Christ in the poor is a fundamental perspective.

In a way, this Christian perspective changes the face of poverty. Because Christ has chosen to live as a poor person, there is now something in poverty that can be an instrument of salvation. Just as in accepting death, Christ has conquered and transformed death from a symbol of defeat and tragedy into an enduring symbol of love and new life, so also, in embracing poverty in his human existence, Christ has made it a precious place where humans can meet divinity. We need to share this Christian perspective with others who work for the poor in order to give a deeper meaning to what they do.

From this basic Christian perspective, Vincent goes one step further. Not only is every poor person important, every poor person can show us something about the goodness and love of God. Or, to put it in more theological terms, the poor can and do evangelize us . 5

It was Vincent's experience that the more he helped the poor, the more the poor helped him; the more he worked to bring Christ's gospel to them, the more Vincent himself was brought by the poor to a greater appreciation of God's love, to the profound mystery of God's life with us. I am sure the same thing has happened to us in our experience with the poor. In going to them, we always come back richer, better, more thankful for blessings we did not expect beforehand. We thought we went to help. We ended up receiving more than we have given.

Given this perspective on poverty, we in the Vincentian Family are in a very good position to contribute something to global efforts to address poverty – something that is liberating, something that truly brings back the dignity of the poor, encourages the genuine generosity of peoples and especially shows forth the goodness and love of God. Working together we can make a world of difference to how poverty is addressed in our generations, and hopefully in generations to come.

2.3 Steps Towards Collaboration Today

There is evident collaboration already on the level of the international organizations in the Vincentian Family. For the last 11 years, the heads of the various member associations have met yearly to discuss common issues and concerns, launch collaborative programs on the international levels, and to provide direction to the celebration of St. Vincent 's feast day. But the greater need for collaboration is on the national level. In view of this, Fr. General wishes that in the next several years the office of the Delegate to the Vincentian Family focus on the formation, assistance to and strengthening of national coordination councils of the Vincentian Family. He believes that very often the real impact of the Vincentian Family as Family is better felt on the local level, where concrete realistic actions could be carried out collaboratively and with quick results.

3. PROJECTS FOR COLLABORATION WITH AMM

What are the possible projects where AMM can collaborate with the other members of the Vincentian Family? There are a number of them, but for our purposes in this assembly, I will simply enumerate the more important and feasible ones. I have categorized them into four areas: actual projects for the poor, information-communication, formation, and support to works of CMs and DCs.

3.1 Projects for the poor

• Fight Against Hunger : Although on the international level, this project has finished, in some countries where concrete projects were started they continue to be a venue for collaborative efforts among members of the Vincentian Family. I can only encourage AMM to continue supporting these projects where they are still to be found. Of course, some national groups can very well decide to start new projects on this matter.

• Political Campaign Against Malaria : Launched last year as an international campaign, this project aims at making people aware of the disease, and at instructing them, especially the poor, on how it can be prevented. At the same time, as a political campaign, the Vincentian Family wanted the governments to include this project in their programs as well as in the allocation of funds especially on the international level. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been spearheading this campaign.

• Visits to Families, Hospitals, Prisons, etc. : This is something that is best done on the local level, precisely on the level of the families. I mention this as a collaborative project precisely because several groups in the Vincentian Family make similar visits of families, particularly the SSVP, the AIC, and the Vincentian Marian Youth. How wonderful it would be if the home visits could be done together by these groups in the Vincentian Family, but each giving attention to its specific character. In the case of AMM, I can recommend that it emphasizes the Marian character of this visit, assisting families to grown in their appreciation of Mary's role in their spirituality. In this way, home visits when undertaken together can become truly an occasion for real evangelization of poor families.

3.2 Projects on Information and Communication.

• As I mentioned earlier, the sharing of information among the different branches of the Vincentian Family has enabled us to be more connected, attuned to real needs of the poor, and able to collaborate more extensively. I can only underscore here how an updated internet or web-site of AMM can help provide the other branches the links and support system that are so important in our works with the poor.

• Vincentian Family Triptych . An example of this was produced by the JMV in time for the World Youth Day. Similar triptychs could be drawn up on the national levels in order to provide immediate and user-friendly information on the existing members of the Vincentian Family in a given country. We need to let others know who we are and what our common mission is.

• Vincentian Family Dossier . This is a project that the International Vincentian Family is undertaking. It is in the process of being drafted and published, hopefully by early next year. I would like to appreciate the cooperation of the different branches of our Family in this project.

•  Projects on Vincentian Formation.

This is an area where we will never see an end to collaboration. I know of local as well as national groups in the Vincentian Family who are continually organizing conferences, seminars, and formation programs for the development and spiritual growth of their members. These would be precious opportunities for AMM to not only help in the Vincentian formation of our family members, but most especially in promoting true devotion to our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and her unique place within Vincentian spirituality. As we have seen in the presentations early this week, the formation programs undertaken by AMM can truly be inspiring.

• Formation in lay spirituality . Integrated in the formation programs on Vincentian spirituality should be the matter of promoting authentic lay spirituality. This should deepen the spirituality that is appropriate for the majority members of our Vincentian Family, and should develop in them a firm commitment to the mission of the Church, particularly in relation to the poor.

• A most pressing need today is the formation of directors and advisors for members of the Vincentian Family. If the AMM, for example, could assist in the formation of leaders, directors, advisors not only for itself but for the other branches of the Vincentian Family, particularly in the area of Marian spirituality, then we can truly have the Vincentian Family working together, and giving witness to others in the Church on the merits of collaboration, networking, and partnership.

3.4 Support and help in the works and projects of the CMs and DCs.

• In several countries, this has been an on-going project of the AMM. This has helped particularly in the formation of candidates of the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, as well as in the maintenance of formation programs. Likewise, in places where the shrines of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal have been established, the invaluable support of AMM enables the pilgrims to benefit from their visits and facilitates the maintenance of these shrines.

These are some projects that come to mind. I am sure on the local level you can think of other possible projects in which you can collaborate with the other branches of the Vincentian Family. I encourage you to come up with these. In this way we shall be able to give witness to the spirit of the great men and women of our Family: Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, Catherine Laboure, Rosalie Rendu, Frederick Ozanam, etc.

Conclusion

I conclude this conference with a prayer directed to the Blessed Virgin that St. Vincent used in his conference to the Daughters of Charity in 8 December 1658. Although it refers primarily to the Sisters, the passage can easily apply to the members of the AMM, as well as to the other members of the Vincentian Family, especially as it concerns Mary's role in our associations.

“Since it is under the standard of your perfection that the Company of charity was established, if we have hitherto called you our Mother, we now beseech you to accept the offering which we make to you of the Company in general and of each of its members in particular. And because you permit us to call you Mother and you are the Mother of mercy, the channel through which all mercy flows, who did obtain from God, as we may believe, the establishment of this Company, be pleased to take it under your protection.” 6

May our Lady of the Miraculous Medal continue to keep us, members of the Vincentian Family, under her care and protection as we try to fulfill her Son's mission towards the poor.

Manuel Ginete CM
Delegate for the Vincentian Family
Rome , 28 October 2005

Cf. Vincentiana 46 (2002) which contains the proceedings of the Vincentian Month 2002. The articles in this volume are very useful references on the different branches of the Vincentian Family as well as on the characteristic spirit of the Family. See especially, B. Romo, “Unifying Elements in the Vincentian Family”, in Vincentiana 46 (2002) 409-420. This article is a thorough presentation on the Vincentian Family and its spirit.  

I include here only the groups that have consistently been represented in the meeting of International Heads of the various branches of the Vincentian Family, held in January for the last ten years.

Sr. Betty Ann McNeil uses more restricted criteria. For more details, refer to this book. She is currently revising and updating it. B. Ann McNeil, The Vincentian Family Tree: A Genealogical Study , Vincentian Studies Institute, 1996.

6 Coste, Conferences to the DCs, p. 1179.

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