Symposium Vincentian Family in Rome

A symposium of the Vincentian Family took place in Rome from 12 to 15 October. The theme was: ‘welcoming the stranger’. Thousands of delegates from the many branches of the Vincentian Family gathered from all over the world to celebrate the anniversary year ‘400 Years of Vincentian charism’.

The Congregation of the Brothers CMM was represented by the entire General Board: Lawrence Obiko, Benyamin Tunggu, Rofinus Banunaek and Niek Hanckmann. From CMM Netherlands also took part: Ad de Kok (Chairman of the Dutch Vincentian Family), Broer Huitema (together with Br. Lawrence he is a member of the Vincentian Family Executive Committee) and Edward Gresnigt. From CMM Brazil, the brothers Damasus Dobat and Adriano van den Berg joined the group in Rome.

Dialogue and discussion

On Thursday evening, October 12th, the event was officially opened with a prayer service in honour of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in the basilica of Saint John of Lateran. The program was richly filled with lectures, dialogue and discussions, including an introduction by Tjeu van Knippenberg, CM and Peter Reijers on Friday, entitled ‘Vincentian spirituality and its prophetic challenge’.

Encounter

On 14 October in the morning, there was a meeting at Sint-Pietersplein. At the end, Pope Francis addressed the participants. “I greet you, and with you I thank the Lord for the four hundred years of your charism. St. Vincent brought forth a passion in charity that lasted through the centuries.” Brother Lawrence Obiko and Brother Broer Huitema, together with fifty other guests, had a personal meeting with Pope Francis later that day.

Relic

On Sunday, October 15th the program was concluded with a Eucharist celebration in the basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. In the afternoon, the Brothers Lawrence and Broer and also other general superiors within the Vincentian family, were invited for a special lunch. At this gathering they received a relic from Vincent de Paul.

“We, the poor “

In the final celebration in the basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, Tomaž Mavrič CM, Superior General of the Vincentians, said: “Jesus put the poor at the center of His mission. Vincent wanted to follow Jesus along this path. The turning point in Vincent’s life was when he started to identify with the poor. When he reached the point of saying no longer “the poor” but could exclaim “we the poor”, from that moment on, he went out to meet others.”