VISIT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNSELOR FOR THE AMERICAS IN BOLIVIA
Between August 31st and September 3rd, the Counselor of VMY in America, Catarina Érika Morais, was in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to represent the Vincentian Marian Youth (VMY) at the first meeting of the Council of the Latin American Vincentian Family for the years 2023-2026. The Council is comprised of seven representatives appointed by the International Councils of the following branches: VMY, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), Vincentian Secular Missionaries (MISEVI), Daughters of Charity (DC), Congregation of the Mission (CM), International Association of Charities (AIC), and the Association of the Miraculous Medal (AMM). During the meeting, the leaders outlined the action plans for the next three years, strategies for expanding the Vincentian charism, mobilization, and inspiration of the branches, countries, regions, and fraternities.
In the context of her participation in the in-person meeting of the Favila Council in Bolivia, Catarina Érika Morais spent time with VMY Bolivia on September 1st and 2nd. On the evening of September 1st, Catarina held a sharing session with the National Council to discuss the state of VMY in the country, inquire about their well-being, address any questions, and of course, personally get to know the members of the National Council, who were elected in September 2022.
On September 2nd, the National Council gathered representatives from three (3) local groups in Cochabamba for a meeting with Catarina. On this occasion, the young people also invited other members of the Favila Council, representatives of the youth movement of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Bolivia, and the priest advisor responsible for the Vincentian Family in the country, Jorge Manrrique (CM).
During the meeting with the young people, Catarina emphasized the importance of strengthening the bond between the VMY and the other branches of the Vincentian Family and working together. She said, “In this month when we celebrate the feast day of our patron, St. Vincent de Paul, we need to rekindle the flame of our charism that began through the Apparitions of Our Lady to Catherine Labouré in 1830. This request remains alive, and Our Lady asks us every day, as Sons and Daughters of Mary, to help the poor, and as Pope Francis says, to live the experience of a Church that is always on the move.
VMY International Team
