Congregation of the Mission (CM)
Congregation of the Mission, a clerical Society of Apostolic Life and of Pontifical Riot, was founded in 1625 in Pans, France, by Vincent de Paul (1581-1660, canonized in 1737) with the collaboration and financial support of Francoise Marguerite de Silly, Madame de Gondi (1580-1625) and her husband. Philippe Emmanuel de Gondi (d. 1662), the Count of Joigny and General of the Galleys of France, in order to evangelize the rural poor. The initial apostolates included preaching missions as a means of evangelizing in rural areas and formation of the clergy through seminary education. The first missionary expeditions were to Madagascar and the British Isles The first motherhouse was the Bons-Enfants (1625.1632), the second was Saint Lazare (1632-1792) and the third is at 95 rue de Sevres where the relics of Vincent de Paul are enshrined. The society received papal approval from Pope Urban VIII in 1633. Approximately 4000 members serve in eighty countries (Provinces - 47; Vice Provinces - 4, Region - 1 and houses - 524). Its members are known by various names in different countries: Vincentians, Lazaristes, Padres PaOles, and Paulinos (Generalate. Via dei Capasso, 30; 00164 Rome, Italy.) The society was introduced in India in 1922