VINCENTIAN FAMILY CELEBRATES FOUNDER'S ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 19, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul to Bishop Gaston Poulain of Perigueux and Sarlat in France, upon the occasion of the fourth centenary of the priestly ordination of St. Vincent de Paul in that diocese.

St. Vincent de Paul, ordained on September 23, 1600, founded the Congregation of the Missions, also known as the Lazarist or Vincentian Fathers. In 1633 he founded, along with St. Louise de Marillac, the Sisters of Charity, also called the Daughters of Charity. St. Vincent's feast day is September 27. He died on that day in Paris in 1660, and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.

In the Letter, written in French and dated September 8, the Holy Father writes that St. Vincent's "greatest concern, which is still very real, was proclaiming the Good News to the most defenseless, materially and spiritually. For him, it was evident that evangelization is a responsibility that concerns all baptized persons, the entire Church. It was with lay men and women that he undertook his first great works. But he soon saw that the benefits of mission would not last unless kept alive by the flame of zealous and educated priests."

"Awareness of the difficult situation being lived in France at the time by many priests, especially in the country, led (St. Vincent) to take an active role in the reform of the clergy which developed following the Council of Trent (1545-1563)."

"Vincent de Paul," the Pope went on, "invites us to give renewed consideration to mission in today's world. Through generous collaboration and constant mutual support, in respect of their own vocation, may priests and laity go forth ever audaciously to encounter the men and women of our time to proclaim the Gospel to them! May Christians be living communities, open to everyone, especially to the most defenseless and to those who are the most marginalized."

John Paul II encouraged the diocese of Perigueux "in its project of resolutely undertaking ... a spiritual and pastoral research with the goal of awakening, developing and supporting priestly vocations."

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