The word “Charism” means gift. The Congregation of the Mission has a rich gift, not just to the church but the whole of humanity. According to the mind of St. Vincent, our Charism is to evangelize the poor and to form the diocesan clergy and lay faithful so that they can participate in bringing the good news to the poor.

Accordingly, our charism animates our spirituality and sustains it. Vincentian Spirituality is thus a participation in the spirit of Christ himself, as propagated by St. Vincent: “He sent me to preach the good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

Hence, “Jesus Christ is the rule of the mission” and shall be considered as the center of its life and activity (SV, XII, 130). The spirit of the congregation is therefore comprised of those intimate personal attitudes of Christ which our Founder recommended to the members from the beginning: love and reverence towards the Father, compassionate and effective love for the poor, and docility to divine providence (Constitutions, art. 6)..