The Congregation of the Mission
Fr. Eamon Devlin CM
Fr. Devlin, originally from County Tyrone, currently serves as the Parish Priest in St. Peter’s Church Phibsborough, Dublin. On the anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) which took place in 1617, please enjoy Fr. Devlin’s reflection.
This day celebrates the feast of the conversion of St. Paul. Paul’s conversion to the cause of Christ is one of the most significant events in the New Testament, setting in motion the missionary outreach of the new faith into the vast expanses of the Roman Empire, which was for the most part non Jewish.
It was on this day also that the Congregation of the Mission began, in the events of a mission sermon given by Vincent de Paul in 1625 which led to the need to gather a group of priests to minister reconciliation and to catechise.
The Spirit that filled Paul, the same spirit that impelled Vincent de Paul is the spirit we too call on today.
May the Holy Spirit lead us to conversion and use us to bring Christ to others in the charism of St. Vincent, seeking and serving the Lord in those who hunger for meaning and hope.