THE INTERNATIONAL CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION

After being founded by Vincent de Paul in France in 1625, the Congregation of the Mission gradually spread throughout Europe, the MIddle East, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Information about the Congregation around the world can be obtained from  Vincentians around the World  (this site), and  the CMGlobal Website . However, this page you are now viewing is concerned with  the work of the Vincentians  of the Australian Province of the Congregation of the MIssion .

 

AUSTRALIA

The first Vincentians arrived in Australia from Ireland in 1885, and they began their work with a mission at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney NSW. The Australian Province of the Vincentians was established in 1926. Vincentians in this Province now carry out their ministry in a variety of places in Australia and the Pacific. There are Vincentians of the Australian Province workikng in the following areas:

 

Vincent's Parish, Ashfield Sydney NSW

St Vincent's Parish is in the innter western suburbs of Sydney, NSW.  The multi-cultural composition of the area gives a particular character to the Parish.  The Vincentians have been there since 1894.  The Community House serves as a residence for the Parish Staff and  Vincentians engaged in various works. See also their  Parish Web Site.

 

Cardinal Freeman Village, Ashfield, Sydney NSW

Cardinal Freeman Village is a Retirement Village run by the Hibernian Society and located within St Vincent's Parish, Ashfield, NSW.A Vincentian Priest has been full time chaplain here for many years.

 

St Anthony's Parish, Marsfield, Sydney NSW

The Vincentians accepted responsibility for the Parish of St Anthony's, Marsfield in 1942. Marsfield is  in the north western area of the Sydney.  The area still benefits from the presence of the Italian Community many of whose families originally had market gardens in the area, More recently, from a variety of Asian immigrants.  Macquarie University is located within the Parish.  See also the Parish Web Site

 

 De Paul House, Marsfield, Sydney NSW

Students who join the Vincentians in Australia live at De Paul House,  Marsfield during their period of formation. This Formation House was transferred from Adelaide to Marsfield at the beginning of 2001. Vincentian Students attend the Catholic Institute of Sydney at Strathfield for their academic studies.

 

Vincentian Community, Marsfield, Sydney NSW

The residences of this community include a number of  Vincentians - some retired, some involved in various ministries - AIDS/HIV Ministry, education for disadvantaged students, Director of the Daughters of Charity, Chaplaincy to Bethany Hostel (see below),   The Offices of the Provincial and  Provincial Treasurer are also located here.

 

Bethany Hostel, Marsfield,  Sydney NSW

Bethany Hostel is a Retirement Hostel conducted by the Daughters of Charity, and located within St Anthony's Parish, Marsfield, NSW (see above).   Currently there is one retired Vincentian Priest in residence, as well as several Daughters of Charity and a number of other women and men.  Some of the Chaplaincy of the Hostel is carried out by a Vincentian Priests residing at The Vin'Yard' in Vincentia St, Marsfield.

 

St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst NSW

St Stanislaus' College is a catholic day and boarding secondary school for boys, located in the central west of New South Wales. It was established in 1867, and is the oldest catholic boys boarding school in Australia.  The Vincentians were invited to accept responsibility for the College in 1889, and have maintained this responsibility to the present day.    More details about "Stannies",  its history, its work, and the role of the Vincentians,  can be found on the College Web Site .

 

Vincentian Community,  South Bathurst NSW

This residence at South Bathurst allows the Vincentian Community at Bathurst to adapt to changing situations at St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, and also provides a suitable base for confreres to carry out Parish Supplies in the region.

 

Vianney College, Wagga Wagga NSW

Vianney College is the Seminary  for the Diocese of Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales.  A Vincentian is  currently Rector of the seminary.

 

Palm Lodge, Brisbane Qld

Palm Lodge is a Retirement Home in Brisbane conducted by Ozcare.  A Vincentian Priest is currently the National Spiritual Director of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and resident at Palm Lodge.  

  Vincentian Mission, Townsville Qld

Three Vincentian Priests are based in the Diocese of  Townsville in northern Queensland. The ministry of these confreres is a Mission serving in several parishes in the diocese of Townsville, and also undertaking other ministries as the needs are determined.  One Vincentian is currently the Administrator of the Cathedral Parish, another is based at Proserpine with the responsibility for the pastoral care of Whitsunday Parish.

 

Catholic Theological College, Brooklyn Park, Adelaide SA

A Vincentian is lecturing at Catholic Theological College, Adelaide.  Catholic Theological College is a member college of the Adelaide College of Divinity,  which is an ecumenical grouip of colleges of Theology and Ministry for the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic Churches in Adelaide.  These colleges are all located on the one campus building at Brooklyn Park, Adelaide. Nungalinya College, an ecumenical college of Ministry and Theology in Darwin NT, is also a member of the Adelaide College of Divinity.

 

St Joseph's Parish, Malvern,  Melbourne Vic

St Joseph's Parish, Malvern is located in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.  The Vincentian Priests and Brothers have had the care of this Parish since November 1892.  As well as being responsible for the Parish, the Vincentians in the Community also carry out a variety of other Ministries.  Full details of the Parish can be found on the St Joseph's Web Site .

 

Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne Vic

Yarra Theological Union is a Catholic centre for theological education and ministerial formation and an associated Teaching Institution of the Melbourne College of Divinity.  Drawing from the traditions of the constituent religious orders, it enjoy a strong relationship with the broader theological community. A Vincentian is currently on the staff of YTU. 

 

USA, San Francisco

A Vincentian Priest of the Australian Province has been on loan to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, ministering mainly to Hispanic communities.  He is currently assigned to St Finn Barr Church in Edna St,  San Francisco . 

 

FIJI

The Australian Province of the Congregation of the Mission has some nine or ten confreres working in Fiji, and the group is made up of Fijian confreres and Australian confreres.   There are Vincent Houses at Natovi, Nausori, Tamavua and Wailoku.   There are also confreres working and studying at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva.   The House of Formation at Wailoku provides formation for young Vincentians  from Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.    More details about Vincentian Houses and Ministries in Fiji can be found on this site through the link Vincentians in Fiji  .

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS

The Australian Province has one confreres currently working in the international mission of the Solomons.   More details of this mission can be found on this site through the links  International MIssions and  Vincentians in Solomon Islands

 

VINCARE OUTREACH

VinCare is the Helping-Hand outreach of the Vincentian Priests and Borthers of the Australian Province, working in the Spirit of Vincent de Paul. It is a public benevolent body whose purpose is to serve people who are finding life tough, and prefers to deal with people who are left out of most care projects. 

VinCare pledges to use any gifts for needy people, with minimal administration costs. It makes an annual report to Government in return for Tax-Free status and allows  donors to claim gifts over AUD$2 as Tax-Deductible. It has been in action since 1980 with special interest in people infected or affected by  HIV/AIDS.

Vincare Operatives are Lay Men and Women, Sisters, Brothers and Priests, who are attracted to walking and working with those who have no power. Further information about VinCare can be found on the VinCare Page of this wesite.

 

 

 

 

 

THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY

The Congregation of the MIssion is part of a wider group of religious organisations known as the "Vincentian Family".. There are more than 6 million people from 63 countries around the world , groups of women and men, both lay and religious, who who draw their inspiration from the spirit of St Vincent de Paul. The majority of such groups are Catholic, but some are non-Catholic in their religious tradition.  Members of the Vincentian Family in Australia would be such groups as the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Daughters of Charity, The Congregation of the MIssion, the Vincentian Congregation, and the MIraculous Medal Association.  Information on the Vincentian Family can be found on the FamVin Australia Site, and on the  WorldWide Vincentian Family  Site.