When you make a donation to support the mission of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal and the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, your gift also supports the Vincentians of the Eastern Province.

But who exactly are the Vincentians and who do they serve in Our Lord’s holy name?

I myself am a Vincentian priest, and the Basilica Shrine is our spiritual home. And I am writing to you today because we Vincentians need more help from you than ever before.

Founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1617, the Vincentians of the Eastern Province have ministries located throughout the Eastern United States and missions in Panama. We are a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life dedicated to the ministry, service, and evangelization of the poor and those on the fringes of Society.

Please let me share a story with you ...

In September 2021, three Daughters of Charity and one Vincentian priest of the Eastern Province arrived in rural South Carolina to begin a new mission in a sparsely populated area where services are limited and farming is the main industry.

The sisters and brother conduct home and sick visits, pastoral counseling, house blessings, funerals, skills training, and spiritual formation to the community. They work with the elderly, Hispanic families, migrant workers, seasonal farmhands, and workers from the area's chicken farms and slaughter-houses. These workers primarily live in nearby trailer parks or other substandard housing.

Often, the people are hungry and turn to the church for help.

My fellow Vincentians help the people of this poor area of South Carolina in a way that only they can. Vincentians see Jesus in the eyes of the poor. And it is among the needy that they serve Him.

Fast forward to today, and there is a vibrant pastoral outreach of faith, hope, and charity for farm workers in the area. But right now, these priests and brothers need your help!

The need for their mission is so great. The growing numbers of individuals and families in need--plus decreased access to government services, health care systems, and safe schools--have created a perfect storm.

Today, more and more people are depending on the Vincentians for help AND hope. That is why I am praying for your help.

If you would make a donation of any amount, it would be such a blessing. The gift you make today will go where it is urgently needed most and do so much good.

And please include your prayers and intentions with your gift, so that I, and my fellow priests and brothers, may remember them.

In 1816, a small group of Vincentians arrived on the East Coast of America. There, filled with St. Vincent’s fire of charity, they came to preach the Gospel to the poor and train priests for the Church.

Your donation will ensure our work continues now and for generations to come.

Please, I urge you to answer this call to bring help and hope to those who need it most. Thank you and God bless you.

Vincentians of the Eastern Province Response Donation

YES, Father Lyons, I want to support the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal’s holy mission and the charitable works of the Vincentians of the Eastern Province with my tax-deductible donation: