Present:
Members of Permanent Section: Renato Lima de Oliveira, Julien Spiewak, Joseph Pandian Thomas, Larry Tuomey, Frank Brassil representing Graham West, Robert Maloney, CM, Marie-Françoise Salésiani-Payet, Carlos Lafarga, Eduardo Marques, Carmela Addante, Joseph Makwinja, Sebastian Gramajo, Marisa Tellez, Willian Alves, Basile Ondigui Fouda, Maurice Yeung, Edmund Keane, Alfons ten Velde, Patrick Ebhojie, Ilidio Fernando Manhique, Johnson Varghese, Thomas Tan, Ella Bitar, Michael Nizankiewicz, Maria del Carmen Guzman, Julio Cesar Marques de Lima, Bertrand Ousset representing Laszlo Könczöl, Erwin Tigla.

Members present: France (M. Lanternier), England & Wales (H. O’Shea), Argentina (C. Godoy), Belgium (A. de Vreese), Brazil (C. Reis da Luz), Cambodia (T. Thoem), Spain (JM. Buergo), United States (R. Middlecamp), France (M. Lanternier), Italy (A. Gianfico), Mexico (LM. Ramirez Gonzalez), Samoa (Judith Seumanutafa, representing Peter Bendinalli), São Tome & Principe (MH. Menezes da Costa Neto), South Tyrol (E. Schaller and J.A. Haspinger), Zambia (K. Kachali), T. Muir, R. Tavares.

Guests: John Falzon (Australia), JR. Diaz-Torremocha (14th President General), Osvaldo Viveros (Paraguay).
Apologies: Liévin Andangha Muamba, Laszlo Könczöl, Huascar Nabucco.
Interpreters: Beatriz Borges, Mario Carbajo, Joaquim da Silva, Amaya de Viu, Jack Fleming, Beth Parsons.

Minutes: Claire-Hélène de Parseval

1- PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
Prayer and spiritual reflection from Robert Maloney, CM, spiritual adviser to Council General.
Subject: “The Vincentian Family at the dawn of its 5th century – 1617-2017”. 5 intentions have been expressed:
- that the Vincentian Family continues to develop an organisational structure which enables us to target more effectively the needs of those living in poverty throughout the world,
- that the Family can produce a survey of its presence around the world, so that we know who we are, where we are and what we do, and can plan our actions as a family,
- that the various branches of the family collaborate actively in the Famvin Alliance, for the homeless,
- that the Family educates and trains its members well,
- that the Family speaks with one voice at the UN on key issues,
- that the Family continues to develop its dynamic community spirituality.

2- OPENING MESSAGES

Opening message from the President of the National Council of Spain:
Juan Manuel Buergo, President of the National Council, welcomed the whole assembly to Spain, in the footsteps of El Cid, Frédéric Ozanam and Saint Teresa of Avila, in this Teresian jubilee year, and warmly thanked Council General for having chosen Spain to host the meeting. He reminded us that conferences started with young people, driven by their evangelical faith, who formed themselves into communities to meet Christ in the poor. Following them, we try to make ourselves holy by improving the lives of our neighbours, through prayer and the encounter with Christ through those in need.

Opening message from the President General:
The President General, Renato Lima de Oliveira, warmly thanked Juan Manuel Buergo and all his team for their help in organising this event. He welcomed all the delegates and also thanked those who accepted his invitation to join the international structure. He asked everyone for their prayers, support, suggestions, comments and ideas to help him in his mission to grow the SSVP and for the work of charity on behalf of people in need.


3 - SPEECH BY THE VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL, Joseph Pandian Thomas.
This is the second annual meeting we are holding in Salamanca after the new team took charge under the leadership of Bro. Renato. I think this is an occasion that is appropriate to thank the Lord for bringing us together to serve at the apex body of the Society. It is matter of great honour and joy to serve in the CGI, making it possible to serve the people around the world. This I realised most when I was in Nepal, when I reached the shelters built by our Society after 24 hours of strenuous travel. We, the Society of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul could bring smiles in the faces of people who were shaken by the earthquake, forsaken by their own government, living in constant fears and continuous tears. Then and there I realised, that the Lord chose every one of us with a specific assignment. We thank the Lord for choosing us. We thank you Bro. Renato, for having been an instrument in the hands of the Lord to invite us to serve at the CGI. In our respective positions, it is with joy and satisfaction we have been working in harmony with the General President. I thank the General President for ensuring an atmosphere of joy, peace and harmony in our meetings and carrying out of our jobs.
Our joy becomes manifold, when we realize that the two years have been years of innovation and progress. Naming every year after one of the founders, gives an opportunity to every confrere to know more about the founders. The Board visited the tomb of Bailly and will be visiting the tomb of Lallier in November. On the last Board meeting in February we had the descendant of Lallier addressing us and it was inspiring to listen to him to talk about the family tree and family history. Similarly the literary contest brings the conference members closer to CGI and provides an opportunity to know more about the origin of the Society. The revival of Circular Letter brings cheers to the conference members. The tone of the letters is especially very intimate. It is so intimate that while reading the Circular Letter the conference members feel the hand of the President General around their shoulders. It is your style Bro. Renato. The optimum use of technology, WhatsApp and Facebook attracts lots of youth around him. In every country, there are more followers to our President General than to the respective National Presidents. You have made the Vincentian world smaller and closer, Bro. Renato.
The extensive visits of Bro. Renato, especially the one in Africa could easily be a milestone in the history of the Society in Africa. We could see you dancing and singing and holding serious discussions and thereby touching every Vincentian heart – making them all feel that they all belong to one international Vincentian family. Above all, the hard work we are putting in for the canonization of Blessed Frederic. Even the day before yesterday you had discussions with the canonization team in the Vatican. My intuition tells me that canonization of Blessed Frederic is near at hand. We should be very fortunate. The youth meeting in Salamanca is a great success and it is an investment made for the future of our Society.
Finally, we thank you brother President General for the diplomatic way you are handling the affairs of the CGI, and for the confidence you have placed on us. We recommit ourselves to our Vincentian vocation with the greater devotion and reassure you of our support. We will continue to help, serve and collaborate for taking CGI for the future.


4- APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PERMANENT SECTION MEETING ON 15 June 2017
The minutes were approved unanimously, with no changes.