Society of St. Vincent de Paul: history and analysis of its institutional renewal crisis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the institutional crisis of the association, relating it to the contemporary religious crisis, in view of the difficulty in admitting new cadres to the entity, as well as the complexity of maintaining its members.   The  motivation of  the work  was  to understand  how  contemporary socioreligious crisis contributes to this process, also using empirical observation in the meetings, parties and events held by the institution. It also sought to identify some external and internal factors of the institution, and its implications, which are contributing to this imbalance. For this, the bibliographical research was used as the main method of data collection, in sources and documents of the SSVP, such as the Rule and Regulation, newsletters, journals, minutes of the entity, as well as works by authors studying the SSVP. There was methodologically also the observation through the presence in a Vincentian Conference, belonging to the Sacred Hearts Central Council. Bibliographically, some of the works of researchers who reflect on contemporary religious reality, dealing with themes such as secularization, modernity, religious pluralism, crisis of meaning, religious transmission, contemporary religious crisis, social and religious mobility, and youth were also analyzed in order to understand how such themes can help in the analysis of Catholicism and, consequently, of the institutional crisis of the SSVP. It began with the history of the entity, seeking to further reflect on the socio-religious crisis and its implications on the institutional crisis of the SSVP, which also has its internal reasons. The final part of the dissertation sought to reflect on perspectives and new social demands that may challenge the entity to dialogue with contemporary society, especially with young people, offering a horizon of renewal and future for the charism of the entity. For a centenary entity, it became difficult for the Vincentians themselves to include their families, especially their own children, for the work within the association. The analysis confirmed the hypothesis that the entity is in fact experiencing an unprecedented crisis, and that innovations, openings, strategies and new pedagogies will be needed if there is an interest in changing, face the current challenges, and renew the SSVP and its charisma. To do this, the institution will need to rely on the strength and dynamism of youth and its members and leaders. The research carried out in the Post-Graduate Program in Religion Sciences of PUC Minas was developed in the "Religion and Culture" Concentration Area and the "Religion, Politics and Education" Research Line.