International Conference

Catholic Congregations and Church Reform (17th-19th centuries)

On the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Mission

11th-12th November 2025

The Congregation of the Mission was founded in France in 1625, during the so-called Catholic Reformation. The dynamics of catechization and the reinforcement of the teachings of the faith, particularly to the “poor people of the countryside”, promoted the growth of this institution not only in France but also in several other European territories. A few years later, the creation of the Conferences of Charity opened up a new branch of the Vincentian family with the foundation of the Daughters of Charity in 1633.

Vincentian houses multiplied throughout Europe, reaching Italy in 1642, Ireland and Scotland in 1647, Poland in 1651 and finally Portugal in 1717. In Portugal, the liberalism of the 19th century had an impact on the life of the Congregation, with its suppression. However, when it was re-established in 1857, it promoted new ways of providing assistance to the most needy, promoting “popular missions”, the opening of colleges and training for the diocesan clergy.

The celebration of the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission serves as a motto for understanding the role that not only this congregation but others have played in the Catholic world. Although it was in the 19th century that the Congregationalist movement experienced its greatest expansion, throughout the Early Modern Age movements such as the Spiritans, Marians, Oratorians, Passionists and Theatines (in addition to the Jesuits) played a major role in the field of religious practices and ideas, as well as in the formation of both clergy and believers or in the dissemination of models of Christian behaviour and Catholic education.

This international conference aims to be a space for debate and reflection on the importance of these congregations and their role in the religious, spiritual, social and pedagogical framework of European and non-European spaces in the period between the 17th and 19th centuries.

We therefore call for the submission of papers that focus on the following thematic lines:

– Practices of formation, assistance or missionization of post-Tridentine congregations;

– Dynamics of implantation and/or re-implantation of congregations in European and extra-European territories;

– Missionary role in the context of the Portuguese patronage;

– Case studies on houses/colleges and their impact on local communities;

– History of spirituality;

– Biographies;

– Relations with other ecclesiastical agents and political powers.

Organizing Committee:

Mr. Carlos Ferreira (PhD candidate, FLUP)

Dr. Hugo Ribeiro da Silva (CITCEM/FLUP)

Dr. Luís Carlos Amaral (CITCEM/FLUP)

Dr. Paula Almeida (CITCEM/FLUP)

Working languages:

English, Portuguese and Spanish

Deadlines:

Until 30th April 2025 – submit proposals using the form: https://forms.gle/md6oNPtkR1Z47EYF9

By May 30, 2025 – notification of acceptance of proposals.

By August 30, 2025 – registration of participants.

November 11-12, 2025 – Conference

For any questions, please contact: congrega.upconference@gmail.com